Iranians help reach Iraq cease-fire

[bemildred]

Source: USA Today

BAGHDAD — Iranian officials helped broker a cease-fire agreement Sunday between Iraq's government and radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, according to Iraqi lawmakers.

The deal could help defuse a wave of violence that had threatened recent security progress in Iraq. It also may signal the growing regional influence of Iran, a country the Bush administration accuses of providing support to terrorists in Iraq and elsewhere.

Al-Sadr ordered his forces off the streets of Iraq on Sunday. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki hailed al-Sadr's action as "a step in the right direction." It was unclear whether the deal would completely end six days of clashes between U.S.-backed Iraqi forces and Shiite militias, including al-Sadr's.

Osama al-Nujaifi, a Sunni lawmaker who oversaw mediation in Baghdad, said representatives from al-Maliki's Dawa Party and another Shiite party traveled to Iran to finalize talks with al-Sadr.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2008-03-30-iraqnews_N.htm

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I'm glad that our peace-loving friends in Iran were able to help resolve this crisis.
:wow:

[Selatius]

1. It appears Iran has as much influence if not more influence than the US inside Iraq.

Yet, the Repubs say we shouldn't negotiate with them.

[bemildred]

2. I don't think your average US politician has any clue at all about what goes in Iraq.

I am looking forward to finding out what was really going on in the last week, cause I'm pretty sure it wasn't what I've been told so far.

[H8fascistcons]

3. Say What?

Al-Sadr hates Iran, didn't they killed his father? Maliki has aligned himself with Iran but not
Al-Sadr. Please help me out, am I confused or is USA today feeding us the official Bush Bull Shit spin?? Thanks.....

[bemildred]

4. I think it was Saddam killed his father.

Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=103&topic_id=349144

[Igel]

6. As-Sadr has spent considerable time

in Iran. In fact, the concensus view is that the mullahs have fast-tracked him for ayatollah-hood, in order to make sure that pretty much whichever Iraqi faction wins, it'll be their boys.

Since the rumor is that the 'special units' that Maliki was after were Iran-backed, and Sadr's guys are Iran-backed, and al-Maliki is also Iran-backed (to some extent) it only stands to reason that Iran has to be involved in the settlement. After all, they're calling many of the shots. They stop arming the special units, and the special units resort to occasional sniper fire.

There are some parallels with Gaza and Lebanon: IJ and Hamas both get Iranian help, as does Hezbollah. Dispose of that help and you'd see IJ/Hamas/Hezb having fewer technological resources, less training.

[laststeamtrain]

5. McClatchy: Iranian general played key role in brokering Iraq cease-fire

Iranian general played key role in brokering Iraq cease-fire
Leila Fadel | McClatchy Newspapers

last updated: March 30, 2008 10:25:48 PM

BAGHDAD — Iraqi lawmakers traveled to the Iranian holy city of Qom over the weekend to win the support of the commander of Iran's Qods brigades in persuading Shiite cleric Muqtada al Sadr to order his followers to stop military operations, members of the Iraqi parliament said.

Sadr ordered the halt on Sunday, and his Mahdi Army militia heeded the order in Baghdad, where the Iraqi government announced it would lift a 24-hour curfew starting early Monday in most parts of the capital.

But fighting continued in the oil hub of Basra, where a six-day-old government offensive against Shiite militias has had only limited gains.

So far, 488 people have been killed and more than 900 wounded in the offensive, Iraqi Interior Ministry officials said.

The backdrop to Sadr's dramatic statement was a secret trip Friday by Iraqi lawmakers to Qom, Iran's holy city and headquarters for the Iranian clergy who run the country.

There the Iraqi lawmakers held talks with Brig. Gen. Qassem Suleimani, commander of the Qods (Jerusalem) brigades of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and signed an agreement with Sadr, which formed the basis of his statement Sunday, members of parliament said.

<more>

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/227/story/32055.html