Iraq: Sadr City cease-fire signed after weeks of fighting

AP via SFGate ^ | 5/12/8 | SELCAN HACAOGLU, Associated Press Writer

[SmithL]

BAGHDAD, (AP) -- Iraq's main Shiite political bloc and supporters of firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr signed a fragile cease-fire in Baghdad's Sadr City on Monday, hoping to end seven weeks of fighting that has left hundreds dead.

But the U.S. military has alleged that most Shiite extremists fighting Iraqi and U.S. forces in the teeming slum have splintered away from al-Sadr's Mahdi Army, and that the cleric's level of influence on those rogue groups is unclear. Many are thought to be trained and armed by Iranian forces. Iran denies the allegations.

Al-Sadr's representatives and the rival United Iraqi Alliance agreed to institute the four-day cease-fire starting on Sunday, but talks over the details of the truce were not finished until a day later. The deal allows Iraqi forces to take over security in the militia stronghold of Sadr City on Wednesday.

"The mutual efforts of all have stood against civil war, and thanks to God we have left it behind our backs," proclaimed Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite.

The clashes erupted late March when Iraqi forces launched a crackdown in the southern city of Basra. The Sadrists accused al-Maliki, a political rival, of trying to sideline them ahead of expected provincial elections in the fall.

The fighting spread through the south and to the capital, where Shiite extremists in Sadr City began firing rockets and mortars toward the heavily fortified Green Zone.

Al-Sadr effectively stopped his militia from fighting in Basra within days of the crackdown. But clashes escalated in Sadr City, drawing U.S. attack aircraft and tanks into the fighting.

[bassmaner]

Many are thought to be trained and armed by Iranian forces. Iran denies the allegations.

And DemocRAT politicians believe them.

[sarasota]

But is it worth the paper it’s written on?

[MovementConservative]

But clashes escalated in Sadr City, drawing U.S. attack aircraft and tanks into the fighting.

Not a great idea if you have an interest in living. So who decided that everytime Sadr City is mentioned in print it has to be preceeded by "teeming slum"?

[SmithL]

So who decided that everytime Sadr City is mentioned in print it has to be preceeded by "teeming slum"?

Because using "Holy City" no longer elicited a worthwhile response.

[epluribus_2]

regroup, rearm, replan, hudna. Wait for Obama.

[John123]

where Shiite extremists in Sadr City began firing rockets and mortars toward the heavily fortified Green Zone

I'll take 2 days in the betting pool please...

[stravinskyrules]

Iran and al-Queada have been sent reeling. Iraq is now attacking the remanants of AQ in Mosul.

According to an article in the SUN, Iran is now trying to save face by stirring up Lebanon.

[RedRover]

The same people who decided that Muqtada al-Sadr’s name always has to be proceeded by “firebrand cleric”.

[bert]

Wasn’t John Brown a Friebrand, you know, the one who invaded America.

[upchuck]

Mookie (who we shudda killed a long time ago) and his Islamoidiots must be running low on ammo. So they get all contrite and agree to a cease fire until Iran can ship them some more.

Uh, gee... how many times has this happened before? I can think of three off the top of my bald head.

KILL THE BASTARD NOW!!!!

How many of our guys are dead because he isn’t?

[MaxMax]

Yep, that was the first thing that came to mind, “regroup”.