Sadr group says peace deal struck

The political group headed by Muqtada al-Sadr, the Shia leader, says it has struck a deal with the Iraqi government to end the fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City district, where clashes have left at least 13 people dead in the past 24 hours.

Sheikh Salah al-Obeidi, a spokesman for al-Sadr, said that the agreement would be effective from Sunday.

"We will stop the fire, stop displaying arms in public and open all the roads leading to Sadr City," he said on Saturday.

Ali al-Dabbagh, the Iraqi government spokesman, declined to give any  immediate details of the pact.   There was no immediate comment from the US military.   The clashes in Sadr City began in late March after Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, launched a crackdown against the Shia armed groups in the southern city of Basra.   Aid groups say at least 6,000 people have fled their homes in Sadr City to escape the fighting and seek help as food and medical supplies dwindle.

Disbanding ruled out

  Al-Obeidi, who took part in the negotiations conducted in Baghdad, said the two sides had reached agreement on most issues.
  
"The two groups agreed on 10 of the 14 points discussed. The agreed points do not include disbanding of Jaish al-Mahdi," he said, referring to the group's al-Mahdi army militia.