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BAGHDAD - Iraq's two most powerful Shiite leaders have signed their first written agreement, pledging to prevent bloodshed by working together to avoid confrontation, Iraqi officials said yesterday.
Supporters of fiery cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and Abdul Aziz al-Hakim's Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council are locked in a violent struggle for control of the towns and cities in Iraq's predominantly Shiite south. Political analysts fear the struggle for dominance in the southern regions, where United States forces have little or no presence, will intensify ahead of provincial elections expected next year.
"Sayyed Abdul Aziz al-Hakim and Sayyed Moqtada al-Sadr have agreed on the necessity of preserving and respecting Iraqi blood under any condition," said the agreement signed by Hakim and Sadr.
Feuding between Iraq's Shiites, Sunni Arabs and Kurds has all but paralysed Prime Minister Nouri Maliki's Government and prevented progress on key reforms wanted by Washington.
The US sent 30,000 more troops to Iraq this year to try to halt sectarian violence and give politicians breathing space to reconcile.
The number of civilian and US deaths dropped markedly in September but there has been little progress in Parliament and sectarian killings still plague the country.
The security push was seen as a final attempt by the US military to prevent all-out war between majority Shiite and minority Sunni Arabs.
More than 1000 people in the predominantly Shiite Baghdad neighbourhood of al-Washash held a rare demonstration yesterday to protest against what they say are US plans to erect a wall around their district.
The US military provoked international outrage this year when it began erecting a high concrete barrier to shield a Sunni Arab enclave in Baghdad from Shiite communities.
The US military has said it will build concrete walls in at least five Baghdad neighbourhoods to protect them from gunmen as part of its security crackdown.
Maliki's ruling Shiite United Alliance welcomed the deal struck by Sadr and Hakim. The alliance fractured last month when the political movement loyal to Sadr pulled out.
The agreement between Hakim and Sadr recommended forming committees in all provinces to work on bringing the two group' views together and managing problems.
Iraqi Shiite officials said the deal was aimed at preventing clashes similar to those in Kerbala in August.
-Reuters
