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Iraq Council Members in Talks with Rebel Cleric Sat Apr 10, 2004 03:34 PM ET BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Several members of the Iraqi Governing Council are negotiating with rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to end a Shi'ite uprising in the center and the south of the country, a member of the council said on Saturday. Naseer al-Chaderji declined to give details of the talks but said a deal would have to include Sadr's renunciation of violence and a commitment by the authorities to improve the lot of his mostly impoverished supporters. "They are in direct contact with Moqtada. We are already...

BAGHDAD, April 7 (Reuters) - Iraq's U.S.-installed Governing Council has discussed a proposal not to prosecute the rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr for murder if he agrees to halt a Shi'ite uprising, council members said on Wednesday. They told Reuters after meeting to discuss the violence sweeping Iraq that using more force against the young cleric and his followers could lead to more civilian casualties and bolster support for him. "Iraq could refrain from pursuing the arrest warrant in return for Moqtada renouncing violence," said one Shi'ite council member, who was speaking on condition of anonymity. "The situation would be akin...