Iraqi cleric Sadr extends militia ceasefire
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadrextended his Mehdi Army militia ceasefire by six months onFriday, a decision U.S. officials said would help fosterreconciliation among Iraq's divided communities.
The renewal was welcomed by the Iraqi and U.S. governments,which both say the initial six-month truce has helped reduceattacks on U.S. and Iraqi troops and the tit-for-tat sectarianviolence that pushed Iraq to the brink of civil war.
In a statement, the U.S. military said it was ready fordialogue with Sadr's movement, which opposes the American trooppresence in Iraq. Sadr led his militia in two uprisings againstU.S. forces in 2004.
White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said it was a positivestep "to the extent that this will help reduce the violence".The United Nations special envoy to Iraq, Staffan de Mistura,said he hoped the move would encourage a national dialogue.
Sadr's decision could prove vital in determining whethersecurity gains can be maintained, allowing the U.S. military tocontinue withdrawing soldiers beyond the more than 20,000 dueto leave by July. There are around 155,000 U.S. soldiers inIraq.
A number of Mehdi Army members interviewed by Reutersexpressed unhappiness with Sadr's order, which they believewill expose them to attack by U.S. forces, but said they wouldobey.
"We knew there would be an extension of the freeze, but wethought it would be for a shorter period and we expected to beallowed to act in self-defence against U.S. forces. Now, afterthis statement, we can't defend ourselves," said Amer al-Moussawi, a Mehdi Army member in the Shi'ite holy city ofNajaf.
The U.S. military has blamed the Mehdi Army for fuelling acycle of sectarian violence with Iraq's Sunni Arab minority in2006 and 2007, and one time called the militia the greatestsingle threat to peace in the country -- a term it now uses forSunni Islamist al Qaeda.
"We have extended the freezing of activities of the MehdiArmy," said Asaad al-Naseri, a preacher at a mosque in the holyShi'ite town of Kufa, reading a statement by Sadr.
Naseri said the renewal would last until mid-August.
A senior Sadrist said the reclusive cleric, who has rarelyappeared in public in the past year, had extended the truce sorogue members of the Mehdi Army could continue to be weededout.
Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh praised the move.
"I hope this suspension will culminate in the ultimatedissolution of armed groups," Saleh told Reuters by telephone.
The U.S. military said in a statement the truce extensionwould allow security forces to focus on combating al Qaeda.
"It will also foster a better opportunity for nationalreconciliation ... We also welcome an opportunity toparticipate in dialogue with the Sadr (movement) and all groupswho seek to bring about reconciliation in building the newIraq," it said.
U.S. commanders have had contact with some local officialsof the Sadr movement, but the military's call for dialogueappeared to be an attempt to formalise that process.
STRUGGLE FOR POWER
Sadr's decision was sent in sealed envelopes to imams ofmosques affiliated with the cleric. The imams had been orderedto read the decision at midday Muslim prayers.
Many Mehdi Army members and Sadrist political leaderswanted the truce scrapped, saying it was being exploited byIraqi and U.S. forces to arrest Sadrists, especially insouthern Iraq, where rival Shi'ite factions are vying fordominance.
Sadr called the truce after deadly clashes in late Augustbetween his militia, Iraqi forces and the Supreme Islamic IraqiCouncil (SIIC), a rival Shi'ite faction, in the city ofKerbala.
Some analysts had said Sadr would be forced to renew theceasefire given higher U.S. troop levels in Iraq, a move bysome Sunni Arab insurgents to stop fighting, and anger inShi'ite areas at criminal activities by groups using themilitia's name.
"For the time being, the cost of declaring an all-out waron (SIIC) and the United States is far too high," PeterHarling, a Damascus-based analyst with the International CrisisGroup (ICG) think-tank, told Reuters by telephone.
"This is an opportunity that should not be wasted. It isone last opportunity to engage with the Sadrist movement andtry to encourage positive change," added Harling, author of anICG report this month on the Sadrists and the ceasefire.
U.S. commanders say violence in Iraq has dropped 60 percentsince June 2007, owing to Sadr's ceasefire, 30,000 extra U.S.soldiers and many Sunni Arab leaders turning against al Qaeda.
(Additional reporting by Ross Colvin and Wisam Mohammed inBaghdad and Khaled Farhan in Kufa; Writing by Dean Yates andRoss Colvin; Editing by Catherine Evans)