BAGHDAD (AFP) — The movement of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr on Friday accused the Iraqi army of violating a truce, but said the Shiite militia will honour the deal that halted weeks of bloodshed.
The guns were silent in the east Baghdad neighbourhood of Sadr City where the Iraqi army has now taken control in line with the May 10 agreement that sought to end seven weeks of street battles between the militia and US troops.
The man sent to Sadr City to supervise the implementation of the ceasefire, Mohannad al-Gharawi, accused the Iraqi military of harassing the local population in violation of the deal.
"The Sadrists are complying with the terms of the agreement and the instructions of its leader Moqtada al-Sadr, but we have to inform the public about abuses committed by some army units against the people of Sadr City," Gharawi said.
"Some units, particularly within the 11th brigade, engaged in abuses against civilians. We warned their leaders who denied it," Gharawi said during weekly Friday prayers in the Shiite stronghold.
Hundreds of people were killed and many more were wounded during weeks of street fighting.
"We condemn these atrocities and ask the population to submit their complaints to an independent parliamentary commission," Gharawi said.
The agreement between Sadr's movement and the government provides for the deployment of security forces to conduct searches and arrest wanted people while at the same time respecting human rights.
The deployment -- dubbed "Operation Peace" -- took place with the approval of the Sadrists in areas which were previously regarded as the territory of the Mahdi Army movement.
There was no US military presence in the former Mahdi Army-controlled areas.
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