Article: Major Iraqi militias to stand down; In plans announced Monday, some 100,000 men will join Iraqi police or security forces. Sadr's militia will not.(WORLD)

Byline: Nicholas Blanford Correspondent of The Christian Science Monitor

BAGHDAD -- Nine political parties have agreed to dissolve their militias as part of a plan to integrate most fighters into the new Iraqi security forces. The move could be a significant breakthrough in achieving stability, say analysts, when the new Iraqi government takes control on June 30.

Excluded from the deal, however, is the Mahdi Army, the militia loyal to firebrand Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr that has been engaged in fierce clashes with American forces in Baghdad and southern Iraq since the beginning of April.

Ayad Allawi, Iraq's new prime minister, announced ...

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