U.S. forces last month moved into the southern third of Sadr City, from which shells were being aimed at their bases and the Green Zone, the fortified enclave across the Tigris River that houses the U.S. Embassy and many government offices. The troops are sealing off that Sadr City area with a 3-mile-long concrete barrier that is about 80% complete.
But U.S. and Iraqi commanders did not want to provoke an all-out showdown with the Mahdi Army by pushing into the rest of Sadr City, a district that is home to an estimated 2.5 million people.
Under the deal, all sides were to suspend military activity for four days beginning Sunday, after which Iraqi forces will have free rein to search Sadr City for weapons and fighters, provided they have a warrant. A committee supervised by Maliki will monitor operations and investigate any reported abuses.
In return, the governing parties have pledged to open more roads into the district, increase humanitarian assistance, compensate residents for their losses and help the thousands of displaced to return.
Khalid Attiya, parliament's deputy speaker who led negotiations for Maliki's alliance, described the deal at a joint news conference Monday as a "road map to implement stability in Sadr City and the rule of law." But both sides acknowledge the way is riddled with potential pitfalls.
Maliki insists that the Mahdi Army must ultimately be disbanded, a point Sadr's followers are not prepared to discuss.
Sadr's representatives have emphasized that they will not accept participation of U.S.-led forces in searches. Obeidi said the governing alliance assured his team that Iraqi forces would have no need to call for U.S. assistance, provided Sadr's followers cooperate.
However, it remains unclear how much control Sadr has over the men who operate in his name. The U.S. military says most of those fighting in Sadr City are members of breakaway factions it alleges are armed, trained and directed from Iran. Tehran denies the charges.
The U.S. military did not immediately comment on Monday's signing. But Navy Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, a military spokesman, has previously said that the U.S.-led forces support a diplomatic solution to the standoff.
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alexandra.zavis@latimes.com
Special correspondents in Baghdad contributed to this report.
