Iraqi Spokesman: Sadr militia not allowed on street

BAGHDAD, Jan 11 (Reuters) - The Iraqi government said on Thursday it would impose a strict ban on militias on the streets of Baghdad under a new security plan and it expected radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's supporters to comply.

Washington has identified the Mehdi Army, a militia loyal to Sadr, as the biggest threat to Iraqi security but the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, dependent on Sadr's political movement for support, has so far struggled to rein it in.

U.S. President George W. Bush said on Wednesday he would send more than 20,000 more U.S. troops to Iraq. White House officials say Bush's troops plan follows personal commitments from Maliki to tackle militias and not to shield Sadr.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the Baghdad plan would make no distinction between Sunni Arabs or Shi'ites.

Asked whether Sadr had agreed to the new plan, Dabbagh said disarming militias would happen as security improves.

"There should be simultaneous steps taken in improving the security as well as disarming the militias," he said in English.

"This of course is going to be a political consensus and there will be a committee negotiating with all parties who have militias, and those ... who don't have militias, to reach a certain agreement and then it will be applied by force."

"There are strict instructions ... in Sadr City or anywhere else, it is not allowed for any militia to come on the street."

Asked again, in Arabic, if Sadr has pledged his support for the plan, Dabbagh said: "We expect from Moqtada's customary wisdom that he will restrain the supporters of the Mehdi Army from confronting the security forces. These are expectations and commitments we have taken from Moqtada."

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

Related Link:
Sources: Maliki tells 'Shiite militamen' to surrender arms, or face 'all-out assault'

Related Link:
Report: 3 Kurdish brigades ordered into Baghdad

Related Link:
Iraqis seal off Haifa street day after fierce battle kills 50 'insurgents'; 21 more 'suspects' arrested

Related Link:
Odierno: Iraqi forces big part of Baghdad clear and hold; envisions 'retreat to outskirts' in 3-4 months

Related Link:
Iraqi National Security Adviser says top cleric Sistani backs crackdown

Related Link:
Hakim: Sunnis causing 'sectarian genocide' of Shi'ites

Related Link:
Sources: Bush plan for Iraq security control by November; Maliki pledges to 'neutralize' Sadr

Related Link:
Sources: Sadr, Sistani meet

Related Link:
Report: Baghdad surge to be rapid influx; Iraq commits 3 new brigades of mostly Kurds

Related Link:
Maliki Announces New Security Plan

Related Link:
Sources: Iraqi-U.S. assault on Baghdad neighborhoods to start

Related Link:
Iranian Media Report: Hakim, Sadr, Sistani in 'consensus' talks

Related Link:
Iraqis report coming U.S. push against Sadr's Mehdi Army

Related Link:
Perspective: Facing Off Against al-Sadr

Related Link:
Expert: 23 militias fighting in Baghdad as civil war spreads