Iraqi Lawmakers, Sadrists Sign Cease-Fire

Representatives Of Firebrand Cleric, Shiite Bloc Agree To 4-Day Cease-Fire In Sadr City

(AP)  Representatives of firebrand cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and lawmakers from Iraq's main Shiite political bloc signed a four-day cease-fire Monday in an effort to end seven weeks of fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City slum.

It was unclear if the agreement would be respected by all the extremists who have been fighting in Sadr City. Al-Sadr is thought to have influence over some of the militants, but not all of them. Many of those fighting Iraqi and U.S. forces are thought to have splintered away from al-Sadr's Mahdi Army.

The U.S. military has repeatedly said its clashes are with rogue elements of al-Sadr's militia and that the majority of the 60,000-strong Mahdi Army did not openly participate in the fighting, adhering to a general cease-fire ordered last August by al-Sadr.

The fighting was concentrated mostly in the southern part of the Shiite slum that is home to about 2.5 million people, and Iraqi officials have reported that hundreds of people have died in the fighting.

Clashes began in late March after militants responded to a crackdown by Iraqi troops in Sadr City by firing hundreds of mortars and rockets at the heavily fortified Green Zone housing the government and Western embassies.

"We have signed the agreement today," said Khalid al-Attiyah, the deputy parliamentary speaker from the main Shiite political bloc, United Iraqi Alliance.

Al-Attiyah said the cease-fire went into effect on Sunday and Iraqi forces will be allowed to enter the area as early as Wednesday and "take over the security there."

The statement said "the government will decide on the number of Iraqi forces to be deployed in Sadr City to achieve security, in order to refrain from asking help from foreign forces," a reference to the U.S. military.

"Any attack against residential areas, government offices and the Green Zone are prohibited from Sadr City or from another area," the agreement said.

The cease-fire stipulates that Iraqi forces have the right to "impose the law and to pursue illegal situations."

"No one and no side has the right to interfere in the work of these forces," it said, adding that the government retained the right to pursue "those who carried out armed attacks against the government."

Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, an aide to al-Sadr, stressed that the Sadrists rejected conditions set by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to disband the Mahdi Army and hand over their weapons.

"We have agreed on cease-fire and to end displaying arms in public," al-Obeidi said. "But we did not agree on disbanding the Mahdi Army to hand over its weapons.

Al-Obeidi showed a document signed by al-Sadr to an Associated Press reporter that authorized the delegation to sign the cease-fire agreement.

The Sadrist movement said that they do not have any "medium or heavy weapons and that the government forces were free to raid and search any suspected place."

The agreement also allowed the government to clear Sadr City of roadside bombs. It said another entrance to Sadr City will be opened and that government will be allowed to reopen their offices.

The agreement also called on both sides to refrain from using media outlets to provoke tensions. It said al-Maliki will supervise a committee which will monitor any violations.

[prinzowhales]

The War on Terror must be a snoozer these days... No articles up since the 6th when CBS interviewed Mr. Ed.

[prinzowhales]

The DNC always takes the measure of the American voter and plays them for fools...otherwise, the Republicans would keep their near vicelock grip on the conveted Fool Vote--America''s biggest and largely unheralded constituency. No one can win the presidency without a plurality of the Fool Vote... No foolin''!

[j-whitman]

obamawhama,,,,, Where did you go ??? Cut & Run & go wa wa to yo momma ???

[j-whitman]

obamawhama,,,,, It''s your people who''ve IGNORED the fact that our intellegence is run by the same idiots that gave us Iran/Contra

[j-whitman]

obamawhama,,,, It''s your own people & you who IGNORE our country & our troops in favor of your favorite contractors ---

It''s your people who IGNORE our country''s past problems & IGNORE the probelms we helped to create in the Middle East --

It''s your people who''ve IGNORED the War in Afhaganistan & the Hunt for Ossama Bin Laden

It''s your people who''ve IGNORED the methodical genocide & apartheid of Isreal''s govenment

[liberalme]

You cannot achieve peace by igoring the problem
Posted by obamawhama

And peace can''t be achieved with guns--and Bush isn''t intelligent enough to attempt peace--he really doesn''t want it.

[liberalme]

You cannot achieve peace by igoring the problem. There is a time when you need to face the problem..THAT IS NOT UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN WORLD ECONOMY or YOU SIMPLY JUST ABANDON YOUR CAR..until then..sorry war in inevitable..
Posted by obamawhama at 06:54 PM : May 12, 2008

Sorry I totally believe Bush/Cheney knew about 911. George Sr wa watching the whole 911 tragedy in BY with Bin Ladens brother.

Bin Laden was the "fall guy" we can''t get him, if we did, the Bin Ladens would go after Bush and Lord knows who else.
Bush never intended to "get" Bin Laden, he knew there were no weapons in Iraq, Bin laden was supposed to be in Afganistan and Bush sent more troops to Iraq--BEFORE Alqueda or any other terrorist got there--Bush USED our troops as bait! 911 was well planned, but not by Bin Laden.

[j-whitman]

obamawhama,,, Are you nuts, or is it your party''s attempt to lie to people & turn the tables accusing dems of what you people do ???

"You cannot achieve peace by igoring the problem. There is a time when you need to face the problem"

Your White House & McBush IGNORED our Constitution, the warngings on 9/11, ignored our generals, ignored the defense think tanks which help draw up war plans & ignore our nations people.

[obamawhama]

"Dems just want our country back to what we once stood for and we never took part in the religious and land wars over in an area that''''s been fighting since the beginning of time..."


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Posted by liberalme at 06:48 PM : May 12, 2008
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Those people fighting since the "beginning of time" is starting to spill in our streets..it is affecting our lives..our lifestyle..our economy..we have tyrants who is openly telling you that you are ''evil'' and needs to be ''converted or die''..

the DNC is offering your is a strategy of ''denial''.. the hope of ''if we ignore them, they would ignore us''.

You cannot achieve peace by igoring the problem. There is a time when you need to face the problem..THAT IS NOT UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO SACRIFICE AND NOT PARTICIPATE IN WORLD ECONOMY or YOU SIMPLY JUST ABANDON YOUR CAR..until then..sorry war in inevitable..

[liberalme]

i think the DNC pretty much played you guys for a fool..
Posted by obamawhama a

Have to agree with you there--that''s why I hope everyone votes them all out in Nov--as ole Bush says "fool me once--you can''t fool me again".

Dems just want our country back to what we once stood for and we never took part in the religious and land wars over in an area that''s been fighting since the beginning of time.

Bush was wrong wrong wrong--he lied and has no conscience and he and 5 deferrment Cheney have put our troops in a position they were too cowardly to be part of.

[obamawhama]

obamawhama,,,, Next time the church bus bound for the Rupture stops infront of your trailer, get on


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Posted by j-whitman at 06:45 PM : May 12, 2008
+ report abuse


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do you believe in that stuff?? I beleive in a supreme being but not the one with flowing white toga..sorry try another person with that line

[obamawhama]

obamawhama,,, You should consider watching Comedy Central, they are a hell of a lot more accurate than Fox or Newsmax & have some top guests on the shows.

I don''''t get my info from them, just a few punch lines.


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Posted by j-whitman at 06:43 PM : May 12, 2008
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AHAHAHAHAAHHAH for a regime that suppress the freedom of speech those morons ARE MAKING TONS OF MONEY FROM YOU GUYS..at any rate, just like a little child who thinks superman is real..I would say..more power to you with that comedy central.

[j-whitman]

obamawhama,,,, Next time the church bus bound for the Rupture stops infront of your trailer, get on

[obamawhama]

WHAT 8 years? You aren''''t drinking koolaid you''''re drinking bug juice!
The dems didn''''t have the majority for 8 years and now that there are more, they are still out voted! Granted, they ALL sould be replaced in Nov and I, for one hope they are, but 8 years? I''''m so glad you''''re voting for McCain!


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Posted by liberalme at 06:41 PM : May 12, 2008
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is the DNC still talking about impeachment??

i think the DNC pretty much played you guys for a fool..

[j-whitman]

obamawhama,,, You should consider watching Comedy Central, they are a hell of a lot more accurate than Fox or Newsmax & have some top guests on the shows.

I don''t get my info from them, just a few punch lines.

[liberalme]

SORRY I dont watch comedy central..I DONT KNOW THE FACTS THEY GIVE YOU..

Posted by obamawhama at 06:40

Why did you bring his name up then? I listen to lintball when I want a good laugh.

[liberalme]

hey after 8 years..the liberals STILL CANNOT get a ''''dumb'''' person out of office..PRETTY MUCH MAKEs THEN not only DUMBER but PATHETHIC
Posted by obamawhama

WHAT 8 years? You aren''t drinking koolaid you''re drinking bug juice!
The dems didn''t have the majority for 8 years and now that there are more, they are still out voted! Granted, they ALL sould be replaced in Nov and I, for one hope they are, but 8 years? I''m so glad you''re voting for McCain!

[j-whitman]

You folks have a good day, I''''m out of here.

[obamawhama]

obamawhama,,,, No, it makes you dumber & pathitic for not paying attention & not knowing the facts.


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Posted by j-whitman at 06:38 PM : May 12, 2008
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SORRY I dont watch comedy central..I DONT KNOW THE FACTS THEY GIVE YOU..

[j-whitman]

obamawhama,,,, No, it makes you dumber & pathitic for not paying attention & not knowing the facts.