Pat Dollard

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This part won’t make the news: He was made an offer he couldn’t refuse. And no, it wasn’t for free dental work.

BAGHDAD — Anti-U.S. cleric Moktada al-Sadr announced Friday that he has extended a cease-fire order to his Shiite Mahdi Army by another six months, giving Iraq a chance to continue its fragile recovery from brutal sectarian violence.

His message was delivered by Shiite clerics during prayer services in mosques dominated by followers of the black-turbaned cleric.

”According to an order by Sayyid Muqtada, activities of the Mahdi Army will be suspended … for another six month period,” al-Sadr’s aide Hazim al-Aaraji said, using an honorific for al-Sadr during his sermon at the Kazimiyah mosque in Baghdad.

The U.S. military welcomed initial word of the decision, but pledged to continue cracking down on what it calls breakaway factions that persist in violence.

”This extension of his August 2007 pledge of honor to halt attacks is an important commitment that can broadly contribute to further improvements in security for all Iraqi citizens,” the military said in a statement. ”It will also foster a better opportunity for national reconciliation and allow the coalition and Iraqi security forces to focus more intensively on al-Qaida terrorists.”

”Those who continue to honor al-Sayyid Moktada al-Sadr’s pledge will be treated with respect and restraint,” it said. ”Coalition and Iraqi security forces will continue to work closely with the Iraqi people to protect them from these criminals who violate the law and dishonor the commitment made by al-Sayyid Muqtada.”

The military also said it was open to dialogue with the Sadrists and ”all groups who seek to bring about reconciliation in building the new Iraq.”

The American military has continued to raid Shiite groups it says are supported and trained by Iran and have splintered off from al-Sadr’s militia. That’s angered some followers of al-Sadr, who also are frustrated with the Iraqi government, and they had argued for an end to the cease-fire.

(AP)