AP reports:

The Iraqi army command in Basra is giving top leaders of the Mahdi Army in the city 24 hours to surrender.

The order comes from Gen. Mohan al-Freiji, who told reporters Tuesday that Basra city and the surrounding province are back under government control.

Al-Freiji says he has warrants for 81 people, including senior leaders of the Mahdi militia, and they have 24 hours to give up.

It's almost like Maliki didn't go crawling to Sadr and the Iranians to plead for a humiliating cease-fire.

Tom Donnelly has a piece on the website today explaining how the press botched this story so badly.