Sadr agrees to peace demands

2004-08-18 16:37

Doha - A spokesperson for rebel leader Moqtada Sadr expressed surprise on Wednesday at threats of an imminent attack on his militia by Iraqi forces, saying the Shiite cleric had agreed to demands made by peace mediators.

"We are surprised by the declaration and threat by the minister of defence ... because we have given our full accord to the initiative presented by the delegation," Ahmed Shibani said on Al-Jazeera television.

Defence minister Hazem al-Shaalan vowed that a "decisive" battle would be launched against Sadr militiamen, who he said must surrender within hours in the central holy city of Najaf, where heavy fighting raged earlier on Wednesday.

Shibani said: "The delegation came with three demands, including that the mehdi army hands (the security of) the old city to the suitable party...and that the Sadr movement participates in the political process."

He added that the Sadr movement was ready to take part in the political process "if it is honest".

"We discussed these points and 10 other points that had been discussed with (national security advisor) Muaffaq al-Rubaie, and our efforts were successful. The delegation went back satisfied," he said.

But the government of Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was "blocking" any peaceful resolution of the crisis, he said.

"We are ready to meet the delegation anytime...we pledge to (organise) a meeting between Moqtada Sadr and the delegation" on the condition of "putting an end to the bombardment of the old city of Najaf and the end of the siege", he said.

The fierce fighting has threatened a peace initiative spearheaded by emissaries from Iraq's key national conference, who travelled to the shrine late on Tuesday, only to be snubbed by Sadr who said "aggression by the Americans" had made it unsafe for him to appear.

Rajaa Habib al-Khuzai, a former member of Iraq's former governing council, one of those who went to Najaf, said the head of the mission, Sheikh Hussein al-Sadr, would meet Allawi to ask for a ceasefire for a subsequent trip.

Khuzai also told Al-Jazeera: "All what Shibani said was true. The mediation did not fail. On the contrary, it was a success. The meeting was positive."

She also denounced the threats by the defence minister of an imminent offensive, saying: "It is regrettable because there was an agreement this morning."

- AFP