WASHINGTON (AFP) — The White House Friday welcomed the continuation of a ceasefire in Iraq called by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his Mahdi Army as a "positive development."
"We welcome any move that forswears violence and encourages peaceful participation," said White House spokesman Scott Stanzel.
"To the extent the announcement today serves to further isolate the groups that are engaging in violence and to the extent that it helps enhance our intelligence to root out those groups, it's a positive development," he said.
"Iraqi and coalition forces will continue to target terrorists and extremists, including groups that are being funded and trained by Iran, but to the extent that this will help reduce the violence it's a positive step," added Stanzel.
Shiite imams in mosques across south and central Iraq opened sealed letters from their populist movement's leader and read his statement to supporters after Muslim weekly prayers six months afer the truce was first declared.
"I prolong the freeze in the activities of the Mahdi Army until the 15th day of the month of Shabaan," Sadr said, using the Islamic calendar to indicate that the ceasefire will continue at least until August 16.
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