Pat Dollard

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Baghdad, Feb 25– Members of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army failing to honor Sadr’s decision to freeze the militia’s activities would be disowned, a spokesman for Sadr said on Monday.

“Those not committed to the freeze decision are in fact declaring mutiny and would be disowned,” Salah al-Ubaidi said in statements to Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI), adding “there would be mechanisms and steps to follow the freeze decision.”

On his views regarding the government’s position on the Sadrist bloc, Ubaidi said “the government is showing positive stands manifested in statements and media reactions, but it does not have the same positive attitude on the ground.”

The Iraqi government had welcomed on Friday the Shiite leader’s decision to extend the freeze on his Mahdi Army militias for six months, noting “the Sadrist bloc represents a fundamental pillar in the political process.”

Sadr had announced a decision in August 2007 freezing any activities of the Mahdi Army, including military operations against U.S. and allied forces, for six months for “restructuring purposes.”

“The Iraqi government had given a free hand to the army and police to target members of the Sadrist bloc in some areas,” said Ubaidi, adding “many followers of the Sadrist bloc were killed or detained.”

The U.S. army had welcomed on Saturday Sadr’s decision to extend the freeze for more six months, pointing out that the decision “would contribute to pacifying security conditions.”

Asked on the U.S. statements, Ubaidi said “When Muqtada al-Sadr decided to freeze Mahdi Army activities, he did not consider any U.S., governmental or partisan aspects. The decision rested on mere legitimate and national reasons.”

(VOI)