|
|
Article: Militia to Give Up Arms Under Sadr City Plan; Deal Doesn't Apply to Entire Mahdi Army
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- October 10, 2004
- Author:
CopyrightThis material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
|
Militia fighters in the Baghdad slum of Sadr City are to begin
surrendering their mortars, grenades, machine guns and other weapons
Monday under an accord with the interim Iraqi government, both sides
announced Saturday.
The plan, if it goes forward as mutually agreed by community
leaders, Iraqi officials, U.S. commanders and militia leaders, would
bring peace to an east Baghdad district that, for weeks, has been a
battleground for armored U.S. forces and the mostly poor, young men
who make up the Mahdi Army, a militia loyal to the Shiite Muslim
cleric Moqtada Sadr.
Calm in Sadr City, home to perhaps 2 million people, would
significantly boost the prospects for promised January elections, ...