Sadr offers truce to ease Iraqi crisis

Source: Xinhua | 03-31-2008 08:19

BAGHDAD, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Powerful Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Sunday asked his followers to put weapons aside after days of fierce clashes have pushed the nation to the brink of even larger bloodshed.

Vehicles burn after a U.S. air strike in a parking lot in Baghdad's Sadr City March 28, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

"In order to stop Iraqi blood being shed and maintain unity of Iraq, we call for an end to all armed appearances in Basra and all other Iraqi cities," Sadr said in a statement.

"We declare that anyone carrying weapon and target security forces, government institutions and political parties' offices, will not be one of us," Sadr said.

Sadr also urged people to cooperate with the security forces and the government to achieve security.

He asked the government to stop detaining his followers and implement an amnesty for detainees.

The government promptly welcomed his decision.

"The Iraqi government welcomes Sadr's decision to stop bloodletting and end armed appearances," government spokesman Alial-Dabbagh said on the state-run TV al-Iraqiya, adding that "this was an expected stance from Sadr."

"After this decision, anyone who carries weapon will not be from the Sadr movement and out of his instructions," he said.

He also said that Sadr's move "would largely promote peacemaking efforts which will bring back security to all the Iraqi cities."

Later, al-Iraqiya said a curfew which has been in place since Thursday will be lifted in Baghdad on Monday. But a traffic ban will remain in three Shiite districts controlled by the Sadrists.

The six-day clash between the Shiite gunmen and the Iraqi security troops have killed about 300 people and left more than500 wounded in Basra and Baghdad, according to the Interior Ministry.

Fierce battles have also seen in other major southern cities, where Sadr followers are locked in power struggles with rival Shiite groups.