A new round of talks to cease hostilities in the Baghdad slum of Sadr City has ended in deadlock, with fighters loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr refusing American demands to disband and turn in weapons, both sides said Sunday. A group of tribal leaders and al-Sadr representatives met Saturday with a Baghdad city councilman acting as an intermediary between the two sides to discuss a 12-point proposal that calls for fighters to disarm in exchange for millions of dollars in reconstruction money and compensation for victims.
The plan would also have Iraqi forces take over much of the security in the east Baghdad slum and limit the movement of U.S. troops. American commanders did not take part in the talks, the military said.
"The only sticking point is that the Americans are insisting on disbanding the al-Mahdi Army and this is not possible for us," Kareem al-Bakhatti, al-Sadr's chief representative at the meeting, told The Associated Press. Col. Bryan Roberts, a spokesman for the 1st Cavalry Division, accused al-Sadr of reneging on past promises. "Previously, Muqtada's militia agreed to turn in their heavy weapons and disband but there is no evidence they have complied," Roberts said in a statement.
"Their random acts of violence have killed innumerable innocent Iraqi civilians and will not be tolerated," he said. "Our forces stand firm: Muqtada's militia must disarm and disband." Sporadic outbursts of violence between U.S. forces and al-Sadr fighters in Sadr City have killed dozens. Al-Sadr, a firebrand cleric who commands widespread support among Iraq's poorer Shiites, led a three-week uprising against American forces in the holy city of Najaf that ended last month with a peace deal allowing militiamen to walk away with their guns.
Al-Bakhatti said he wanted a similar deal for Sadr City.
http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBHNDZ0BZD.html
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