Baghdad, May 13, IRNA ,Representatives of anti-occupation religious leader Moqtada Sadr and the Iraqi government on Monday signed a peace deal.
The truce which took effect Monday 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 Iraqi forces,” it says, adding that the government retains the right to pursue “those who carried out armed attacks against the government.”
Sheik Salah al-Obeidi, an aide to al-Sadr, said that the cleric had rejected conditions set by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to Mahdi Army and hand over its weapons.
“We have agreed on a ceasefire and to end displaying arms in public,” Obeidi said.
“But we did not agree on disbanding al-Mahdi Army to hand over its weapons.”
The Sadrist movement, he said, does not have any “medium or heavy weapons” and added that “the government forces were free to raid and search any suspected place.”
Health officials said Monday that the latest clashes in Sadr City killed 2 people and wounded 25.
They said it was not clear if there were any militants among them.
Iran suspended talks with the US on Iraq security in protest at disproportionate bombardment of Sadr City and subsequent civilian deaths.
Iran also called on the warring parties to settle their dispute at the negotiating table and refrain from bloodshed.
Iran has held the United States responsible for the bloodshed in Iraq five years after occupation and encouraged the US officials to take the American soldiers home safe and sound and that five years bloodshed is enough for the American warmongers.
Iran had so far brokered a ceasefire between the Iraqi government and al-Mahdi Army.