The Iraqi government on Sunday welcomed the statement by Shiite cleric Muqtada Sadr calling for withdrawal of his militants from the streets.
"The Iraqi government welcomes Sadr's decision to stop bloodletting and end armed appearances," Ali al-Dabbagh said on Iraq's state-run television, adding that "this was an expected stance from Sadr."
"After this decision, anyone who carries weapon will not be from the Sadr movement and out of his instructions," he said.
He also said that Sadr's move "would largely promote peacemaking efforts which will bring back security to all theIraqi cities."
The radical Shiite leader ordered his Mahdi Army fighters to stop showing up in streets with weapons and targeting security forces, government institutions and political parties' offices. Anyone who violates the order "will not be one of us," he said.
Meanwhile, Sadr asked the government to announce an amnesty and release detained militia members.
The six-day clash between Shiite gunmen and the Iraqi security troops have killed about 300 people and left more than 500 wounded in Basra and Baghdad, according the Interior Ministry. Fierce battles have also been seen in other major southern cities.
Despite Sadr's statement, the Iraqi government, however, has not declared an end of the military operation in Basra.
Source:Xinhua
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