Region | Iraq
Disagreements mar truce deal between government and Al Sadr men
The Iraqi government and representatives of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr have announced that they had struck a deal to halt weeks of fighting in a Baghdad slum. But disagreements over the content of the accord cast doubt on whether it would end the bloodshed.
- By Alexandra Zavis, Los Angeles Times News Service
- Published: 23:52 May 11, 2008
Baghdad: The Iraqi government and representatives of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr have announced that they had struck a deal to halt weeks of fighting in a Baghdad slum. But disagreements over the content of the accord cast doubt on whether it would end the bloodshed.
The extent of the deal between the government and Al Sadr's supporters, which was brokered by lawmakers and was scheduled to take effect on Sunday, quickly became murky.
Under the terms announced by the cleric's lead negotiator, Shaikh Salah Obeidi, Al Sadr's Mahdi Army militia would set aside their weapons and allow the government to pursue individuals wanted for attacks, provided that there is a warrant.
In return, the government would stop what he called "random" raids and open blocked roads into the cleric's Baghdad stronghold, Sadr City.
Obeidi said the document made no mention of the government's demand that the militia disband and surrender its medium and heavy-grade weapons, points the cleric's representatives are not prepared to discuss.
But Ali Dabbagh, a spokesman for Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki, said all sides had agreed that only the government is authorised to maintain an army and impose law.
"The government has the right to raid and search any place that is suspected to contain heavy and medium weapons," he said in a statement.
Obeidi also said the agreement allows only Iraqi forces to conduct raids in Sadr City, not the US military. But Dabbagh said that the deal did not address the role of foreign troops, a point underscored by Hadi Ameri, a member of the ruling alliance's negotiating team.
'US will keep bombing'
"There is no point that prevents the Americans from performing military operations in Sadr City," Ameri said. "The US forces are and will continue bombing ... the places that are launching mortar rounds or rockets at their bases and/or the Green Zone."
Even if the discrepancies can be ironed out, it remains to be seen whether the gunmen who claim allegiance to the cleric in Sadr City will honour the accord.
The US military publicly maintains that those fighting in Sadr City are members of breakaway factions who have disregarded a unilateral ceasefire declared by Al Sadr in August. But commanders privately concede that the uprising in Sadr City has become more widespread in recent weeks.
The US military said it had not been informed of Saturday's truce.
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