Reply #4: Iraqi paper: residents described the deal as “fragile.” [View All]

[sabra]

http://www.azzaman.com/english/index.asp?fname=news\2006-08-29\kurd1.htm

<snip>

On Tuesday, Sadr’s group was said to have reached a ceasefire arrangement with U.S. and Iraqi troops but residents described the deal as “fragile.”

The fighting erupted when foreign troops arrested a Sadr militia leader.

Diwaniya, a major Sadr stronghold, was until recently relatively quiet.

It is not clear why the Shiite-dominated government has decided to move against Sadr at a time his deputies are active in parliament and is part of the ruling Shiite collation.

An Iraqi army captain, who did not want to reveal his name for security reasons, said Sadr’s militiamen from villages and towns across the province were pouring into the city.

He also said the government was sending “more reinforcements” to the city in a show of force

“If fighting erupts again, and this is very likely, we will have a very bad situation,” he said.