Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Peace agreement signed in Diwaniyah
Security, Politics
Representatives of political parties and forces in Al-Diwaniyah, the centre of Al-Qadisiyah Governorate in southern Iraq, have signed an agreement to end armed manifestations and normalise the situation following security troubles for over one month.
Ni'mah Fa'al, head of the committee formed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to resolve the deteriorating security situation in the governorate, said the agreement was signed by the representatives of all the parties and the Al-Sadr office in Al-Diwaniyah.
Ni'mah Fa'al, head of the committee formed by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki to resolve the deteriorating security situation in the governorate, said the agreement was signed by the representatives of all the parties and the Al-Sadr office in Al-Diwaniyah.
COMMENT: On paper, this development looks good. For months al-Sadr's militia - or possibly a rogue element of it - has clashed with security forces. If the agreement works, it could be implemented in other areas with a similar political make-up in the south. However, at the moment it is a very delicate balance and it won't take much to stir up the violence again. COMMENT ENDS.
