Al-Sadr Calls it Off

Good.

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN)—Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr told his followers to stop fighting and to cooperate with Iraqi security forces Sunday, as U.S. and Iraqi forces targeted his Mehdi Army in Basra and Baghdad.

In exchange for brokering the cease-fire, al-Sadr demanded that the government give his supporters amnesty and release any of his followers that are being held.

The nine-point statement was issued by his headquarters in Najaf and came a day after al-Sadr told his fighters not to surrender their weapons.

“We announce our disavowal from anyone who carries weapons and targets government institutions, charities and political party offices,” said the Sunday statement that was distributed across the country and posted on Web sites linked to al-Sadr’s movement.