Iran had role in Basra negotiations

BASRA, Iraq, March 31 (UPI) -- Iran played a key role in persuading Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr to end his militia's attacks on Iraqi security forces, an Iraqi lawmaker said.

Haidar al-Abadi said Iraqi Shiite lawmakers traveled Friday to Iran to meet with Sadr, returning Sunday, the day the radical cleric told his Mehdi Army fighters to cease fighting, CNN reported.

News of Iran's involvement in cease-fire talks came as an spokesman for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said operations targeting rough militia in the Shiite stronghold of Basra would end when the operation's goals were achieved.

Abadi, a member of Maliki's Dawa party, said the lawmakers who went to an undisclosed place in Iran to broker the cease-fire were from five Shiite parties.

The lawmakers hoped to persuade Iran to cut off aid to Shiite militias and to persuade Sadr to end the fighting, Abadi said.

News of the delegation's role comes a day after Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh denied any direct or indirect talks took place between the government and Sadr's representatives in Najaf, where the cleric's headquarters is located.