An earlier version of this article incorrectly identified Brig. Gen. Mike Milano as the top commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad. He is the deputy commander.
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Delicate Deal Helps Decrease Violence in Baghdad's Sadr City Enclave
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The violence in Sadr City erupted in late March after the Iraqi government launched an operation to rid the city of Basra of militias. The Sadrists view the assault as an effort by Shiite rivals in the government to weaken them ahead of provincial elections scheduled for October.
Leewa Smaysim, a senior Sadrist lawmaker, denied reports that the deal was struck between Sadr and his chief rival, Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, leader of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, a powerful Shiite party in Maliki's ruling coalition. Smaysim said both sides would be "in the process of executing the items of the deal" over the next four days.
Most of Sadr's militia has not engaged in the battles, obeying a cease-fire imposed by Sadr last August. U.S. military commanders insist they are fighting so-called rogue elements who have split from Sadr.
Since the fighting began, hundreds of civilians have fled their homes and aid agencies have declared shortages of food and medicine in some parts of Sadr City.
Ustad Ali al-Khataf, a Sadr City resident, said that "life is going back to normal." He had met a friend from another part of Sadr City that he hadn't seen for a month because of the clashes.
Still, he said many residents are afraid to return to their homes. "People are now calling each other to check the situation to see if they can come back," Khataf said.
Elsewhere, gunmen attacked a checkpoint manned by Sunni Awakening fighters, former insurgents now aligned with U.S. forces, killing one and injuring two in Baqubah, northeast of Baghdad, police said.
Special correspondents Saad al-Izzi and Zaid Sabah in Baghdad, Saad Sarhan in Najaf and other Washington Post staff in Iraq contributed to this report.
