An extremist Shiite group believed responsible for the killing of five US soldiers in a bold raid south of Baghdad and the kidnapping of five British men has agreed to renounce violence, a government adviser said on Monday.
The deal was reached during a weekend meeting between Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and representatives of Asaib Ahl al-Haq, or League of the Righteous, a group the US alleges is backed by Iran and refuses to adhere to a militia ceasefire.
The group promised to lay down its weapons and join the political process, according to government aide Sami al-Askari, who was at the meeting. In return, al-Maliki promised to seek the release of the detainees in US custody, al-Askari said.
The deal comes as the Shiite-led Iraqi government moves increasingly to assert its sovereignty and solidify its power base ahead of national elections scheduled for January. The US military also has seen its influence wane as it begins to pull back its troops with plans for a full withdrawal by the end of 2011.
The transformation of the remaining Shiite militant groups into political organizations would be a significant development for Iraq as it prepares for the end of the US military role. It also could boost Tehran’s leverage in the neighboring country, although Iran’s government denies any links to Shiite extremists in Iraq.
Iraqi politicians with links to the Asaib al-Haq have said the group wants to participate in next year’s parliamentary vote, either by fielding its own ticket or backing candidates from other Shiite parties.
Government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh also confirmed the deal, Iraqi state television reported.
“The delegation of the Asaib Ahl al-Haq group announced its support for the political process, renounced violence and offered support for efforts to achieve national unity,” he told reporters. “Both sides agreed to solve the pending problems, especially the issue of detainees whose hands have not been stained with Iraqis’ blood and who have no criminal evidence against them.”
Several high-profile Shiite detainees have been released from US custody this summer, including key Asaib al-Haq member Laith al-Khazali in June. He and his still-detained brother, Qais, were accused of organizing a daring attack on a local government headquarters in Karbala that killed five US soldiers on Jan. 20, 2007.
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