MIDDLE EAST 
Iraqi govt and Sadr fighters agree to truce
Saturday, 10 May, 2008
Radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr agrees to end weeks of clashes in Baghdad
Iraq's government has agreed a truce with the movement of Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to end weeks of clashes in Baghdad between Shi'ite gunmen and security forces, a spokesman for the cleric said.
Government officials were not immediately available to comment, but if confirmed, the ceasefire could end fighting that has killed several hundred people and left the 2 million residents of Sadr City trapped in a battle zone.
The US military said it was not aware of any deal.
"A deal has been made between the Sadr bloc and the United Iraqi Alliance (UIA) to have a ceasefire. The main aim of the deal is to solve the crisis in Sadr City," Sadr spokesman Salah al-Ubaidi told Reuters. The UIA is the country's ruling alliance in parliament.
"The government has accepted this deal," Ubaidi added.
Ubaidi said he expected the deal to take effect either on Saturday night or Sunday. He said the agreement comprised 10 points.
Major-General Qassim Moussawi, spokesman for Iraqi security forces in Baghdad, said he was not aware of any agreement.
"As a field commander, we are not aware of this deal. Our forces are still on the ground and will not withdraw from Sadr City or other parts unless weapons are handed over," he told Reuters.
The US military said on Saturday it had killed eight militants in different districts of Baghdad on Friday.
That brought to 33 the total number of gunmen that US forces say they killed in Baghdad on Thursday and Friday.
Source: AAP
