BAGHDAD, March 15 (UPI) -- The Mahdi Army, the Iraqi Shiite group loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr, has avoided confrontation with U.S. troops doing security sweeps of Sadr City.
Sadr is cooperating with the effort to pacify Baghdad, the Washington Post reported.
"We're very encouraged by what we're seeing on the ground right now in Sadr City," said Maj. Gen. William B. Caldwell, the U.S. Army spokesman. "There is a tremendous amount of cooperation and dialogue ongoing. It's proven to be very beneficial to both sides."
The violence still goes on, with some attacks from Mahdi Army groups who have not signed on to cooperation. On Thursday, Rahim al-Darraji, the mayor of Sadr City, was wounded in an attack that killed some of his bodyguards.
The truce could be temporary, the Post said.
"If the sayyid (Sadr) says it is in the best interest to rise up against the Americans, we will rise. If the sayyid says there's no interest, we won't rise," said Mohammad Abu Haider, a Mahdi Army commander who considers the U.S. military an occupation force. "All the people in this city follow Sayyid Moqtada al-Sadr."
