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CNN: Iran helped broker ceasefire
in Iraq
David Edwards and Muriel Kane
Raw
Story
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
It was reported on Sunday that Iranian officials had
helped broker a ceasefire agreement in the recent fighting between
Iraq's government and radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
Iran has close ties to both al-Sadr's movement and Prime Minister
Nouri al-Maliki, and representatives of two of the parties in
Maliki's coalition traveled to Iran to finalize the talks.
CNN's Nic Robertson reported from Baghdad on Monday that the
ceasefire appears to be holding and stores in Basra are reopening.
Robertson also explained that the recent violence represented
conflict among Shi'ite factions, which was why the Iranians were
able to act as brokers.
(Article continues below)
"There's a broad alliance of Shia parties here in Iraq that
have been sort of struggling and struggling to hold themselves
together over the recent months," Robertson stated. "That
alliance essentially broke down with this recent fighting, and
it appears that Iran has wanted the Shias to remain united here,
that they don't want massive violence right on their own doorstep."
"It also shows how weak the prime minister is here,"
Robertson continued. "He went to war against Moqtada al-Sadr's
militia, failed to defeat them ... decisively, and the Iranians
have stepped in to help him save face as well."
"The Iranians here are in a very strong position, influencing
the government," concluded Robertson. "I think we can
expect more of the same."
The San Francisco Chronicle offered a somewhat more detailed
explanation of the conflict between the Iraqi government and al-Sadr's
followers, noting that "Enmity has long festered between
the two sides: one a ruling party that has struggled against the
widespread perception that it gained power on the back of the
U.S. occupation, the other a populist movement that has positioned
itself as a critic of the new order."
"Since U.S.-led forces ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003, the
members of the ruling coalition have been viewed by many Iraqis
as isolated returning exiles, backed by Iran or the United States.
... In contrast, the al-Sadr movement's foundations are built
upon the legacy of al-Sadr's father, who challenged Hussein's
rule in sermons before being shot dead in 1999. Its voice - fiercely
anti-American and staunchly nationalist - has emerged as one of
the few alternatives for Iraqis."
"The animosity also is rooted in a historic rivalry between
the al-Sadr religious family, long seen as a champion of the underclass,
and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council's senior leader, Abdul-Aziz
al-Hakim, the son of a conservative grand ayatollah, whose family
traditionally enjoyed the support of the country's Shiite merchant
class."
This video is from CNN's American Morning, broadcast March 31,
2008.
Transcript via closed captions
:: we're also following other breaking news this morning. we're
learning today that iranian officials helped broker a cease-fire
agreement between muqtada al sadr. does the cease fire appear
to be holding at this point?
:: reporter: it does appear to be. the armed militia members
that were on the streets of some of the suburbs of baghdad and
much of the city of basra are no longer in evidence today. the
curfew is gone, some of the stores are opening in basra. this
is a first indication that both sides have pulled back from the
brink. it's also an indication of how much pressure the iranians
have put on muqtada al sadr.
:: to that point, this is what idea of iran brokering a cease
fire between these two factions? al maliki is the prime minister
of iraq, shouldn't he be handling this? sfwlr there's a broad
alliance of shiia parties here in iraq that have been struggling
to hold themselves together more and more over the last few months.
that alliance broke down with this recent fighting and it appears
that iran has wanted the shiia to remain united here, they don't
want massive violence right on their doorstep and iran has weighed
in by bringing this alliance of political parties, the prime minister's
political parties and muqtada al sadr to iran where muqtada al
sadr is believed to be at the moment to get them around a table,
to get a negotiated deal hammered out. it shows you how week the
prime minister is here. the iranians have stepped in to help him
save face as well. the iranians here are in a very strong position
influencing the government right now, john.
:: what does that mean for the long-term, ned?
:: reporter: more of the same, everyone knows that the militias
have been arming -- attacking u.s. forces here as well. that military
involvement is well documented by u.s. commanders here. the u.s.
american politicians here very much aware of iran's involvement
in the politics here. this is the biggest manifestation we have
seen so far. the fighting over the last six days is a new dimension
to the war here that we have this shiia party fighting mojs themselves.
this is ahead of elections coming up in october and we can expect
more of the same.
:: nick, thanks very much.
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