Iraq's Sadr Militia Given 5 Days to Turn Over Arms
The Iraqi government will give Shi’ite militiamen five days to hand in weapons under a weekend peace agreement, National Security Adviser Kassim Daoud said on Sunday. He said the Iraqi interim government would commit more than $500 million to rebuilding Sadr City, a dilapidated slum which has been damaged in battles with U.S. troops. Daoud said Iraqi police and National Guard would play a role in Sadr City under the agreement which starts Monday and reserved the right to seek support from U.S.-led multinational troops to maintain security. Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s militiamen have staged two major rebellions in Iraq, one against U.S. troops in April and the other against American and Iraqi forces in August. Full Story