Reuters

Uneasy truce in Baghdad

Updated 15.34 Sat May 10 2008

Iraq's government has agreed a truce with the forces of Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

The ceasefire could halt weeks of fighting in eastern Baghdad that has killed several hundred people and trapped the two million residents of Sadr City in a battle zone.

But it remains unclear how much control the anti-American cleric has over the militiamen in the vast slum, the stronghold of his Mahdi Army guerrillas

But it remains unclear how much control the anti-American cleric has over the militiamen in the vast slum, the stronghold of his Mahdi Army guerrillas.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh the agreement called for militiamen to hand in their medium and heavy weapons.

This includes rocket and mortar launchers, which have been used to fire shells at the Green Zone government and diplomatic compound since Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki ordered a crackdown on the Mahdi Army in March.

Mr Dabbagh said he expected the pact to take effect on Saturday night or Sunday with a total halt to all Iraqi military activity for four days.

But it was unclear if Mr Maliki had ordered the US military to stop offensive operations.

American helicopters have been hovering over Sadr City 24 hours a day, hunting rocket and mortar crews.

Mr Dabbagh said: "The Iraqi government calls on all parties to commit to this deal, to be calm and show self-restraint.

"The prime minister will decide whether there is a need for US forces (in Sadr City)."

Bahaa al-Araji, a senior parliamentarian from Sadr's movement, said: "We accept Iraqi security forces can enter the city but we want no foreign forces."