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Radical cleric extends ceasefire

An Iraqi Shiite waves a sword as others carry mock coffins for deceased Mahdi Army fighters during a rally in Baghdad, Iraq, on Thursday. Moqtada al-Sadr yesterday announced he would extend a six-month freeze on attacks by his Mahdi Army. PHOTO: AFP

Anti-US cleric Moqtada al-Sadr announced yesterday that he has extended a ceasefire order to his Shiite Mahdi Army by another six months, giving Iraq a chance to continue its fragile recovery from brutal sectarian violence.

His message was delivered by Shiite clerics during prayer services in mosques dominated by followers of the black-turbaned cleric.

"According to an order by Sayyid Moqtada, activities of the Mahdi Army will be suspended ... for another six month period," al-Sadr's aide Hazim al-Aaraji said, using an honorific during his sermon at the Kazimiyah mosque in Baghdad.

Al-Sadr's decision to halt the activities of his powerful militia for up to six months last August was one of three critical steps that have been widely credited with bringing the Iraqi death toll down more than 60 percent in recent months. The other pieces of the puzzle are the surge of US troops and the move by US-backed Sunni fighters to switch allegiances and start working against al-Qaeda in Iraq.

The US military welcomed initial word of the decision, but pledged to continue cracking down on what it calls breakaway factions that persist in violence.

"This extension of his August 2007 pledge of honor to halt attacks is an important commitment that can broadly contribute to further improvements in security for all Iraqi citizens," the military said in a statement. "It will also foster a better opportunity for national reconciliation and allow the coalition and Iraqi security forces to focus more intensively on al-Qaeda terrorists."

"Those who continue to honor al-Sayyid Moqtada al-Sadr's pledge will be treated with respect and restraint," it said. "Coalition and Iraqi security forces will continue to work closely with the Iraqi people to protect them from these criminals who violate the law and dishonor the commitment made by al-Sayyid Moqtada."

The military also said it was open to dialogue with the Sadrists and "all groups who seek to bring about reconciliation in building the new Iraq."

The US military has continued to raid Shiite groups it says are supported and trained by Iran and have splintered off from al-Sadr's militia. That's angered some followers of Sadr, who also are frustrated with the Iraqi government, and they argued for an end to the ceasefire.

Al-Sadr's surprise decision last year to stand down his Mahdi Army for up to six months was designed to stop a Shiite-Shiite rift from spiraling out of control and to weed out infiltrators in his militia's ranks, according to aides of the radical Shiite cleric.

Al-Sadr issued his order to his fighters to stand down for up to six months on Aug. 29 last year, days after deadly clashes in the holy city of Karbala between his Mahdi Army and the rival Badr militia of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, the country's largest Shiite party and a US partner.
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