Region | Iraq
Ceasefire deal made in Baghdad's Sadr City, says cleric
Shiite militants have agreed on a ceasefire in Baghdad's embattled neighborhood of Sadr City, said a high level cleric on Saturday, holding out hope that weeks of clashes in the capital could be at an end.
- AP
- Published: 15:39 May 10, 2008
Baghdad: Shiite militants have agreed on a ceasefire in Baghdad's embattled neighborhood of Sadr City, said a high level cleric on Saturday, holding out hope that weeks of clashes in the capital could be at an end.
In the northern city of Mosul, an Iraqi army commander announced the start of the long anticipated offensive against Al Qaida in Iraq's last urban stronghold.
Shaikh Salah Al Obeidi, an aide to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada Al Sadr, said the ceasefire will go into effect on Sunday.
The ceasefire may not necessarily end the seven-week old clashes in Sadr City, the stronghold of Al Sadr's Mahdi Army, however, as US military has blamed clashes on breakaway groups.
It is not believed that the bulk of the 60,000-strong Mahdi Army has participated in the clashes. Instead it is just splinter groups that have refused to honor a general ceasefire ordered by Al Sadr last August. Al Sadr has directed his supporters to only fight when attacked.
There was no immediate comment from the US military on the reported deal. Iraqi government spokesman Ali Al Dabbagh refused repeated requests for comment.
"Government security forces have the right to pursue wanted people legally with respect to the principles of human rights and anyone from police and other security forces who violates this will be sued according to the law," Al Obeidi said.
The newly announced ceasefire comes after government-backed Shiite envoys set strict demands for Shiite militias to end their battles against US-led forces in a meeting with Al Sadr's supporters on Thursday.
Al Obeidi said an agreement had been reached between parliament's coalition of Shiite parties and the Sadrists.
"A 10-point agreement has been reached between members from the United Iraqi Alliance and Sadrist movement in Baghdad and we are informed that Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki is committed to it," Al Obeidi said in the southern city of Najaf.
He added that "the agreement stipulates that Mahdi Army will stop fighting in Sadr City and will stop displaying arms in public. In return, the government will stop random raids against Al Sadr followers and open all closed roads that lead to Sadr City."
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