IRAQ: Text of the Sadr cease-fire statement - Arablinks

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Text of the Sadr cease-fire statement
Arablinks

March 30, 2008

Here is the text of the statement by Moqtada AlSadr that launched the
current (Sunday March 30) cease-fire negotiations:

Based upon our responsibilities in law [shariah] and for the
sparing of Iraqi blood and for the protection of the reputation of the
Iraqi people, and for their unity both in terms of people and in terms
of land, and in preparation for its independence and liberation from
the armies of oppression; and in order to put out the fires of fitna
which the occupier and his followers wish to keep burning between
Iraqi brothers, we call upon the beloved Iraqi people to measure up to
their responsibility and their consciousness of law in sparing blood
and preserving peace in Iraq, and its stability and its independence.

The following is resolved:

(1) Ending armed manifestations in the governate of Basra and all
the other governates

(2) Ending of attacks and arbitrary illegal arrests

(3) Demand on the government to apply the law on general amnesty,
and release all prisoners who had not had charges confirmed against
them, and particularly prisoners belonging to the Sadrist trend

(4) We announce that we will renounce those who carry weapons and
target the government and service agencies and institutions, or
[political] party offices

(5) Cooperation with government agencies to bring about security
and to charge those who commit crimes, according to legal [qanuniya]
process

(6) We affirm that the Sadrist movement does not possess heavy
weapons

(7) Efforts for the return to their residential areas of those who
were forced out on account of security incidents

(8) We demand respect for human rights by the government in all of
its security actions

(9) Working for the realization of development and services
projects in all governates