Rumsfeld says Baghdad violence is coming down [View All]

[Barrett808]

Rumsfeld says Baghdad violence is coming down
by Jim Mannion

WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said US and Iraqi troops have reduced the levels of violence in Baghdad but whether that lasts depends on a difficult reconciliation process.

Rumsfeld and Iraq's visiting deputy president Adil Abd al-Mahdi skirted the question of what to do about Moqtada al-Sadr, the firebrand Shiite cleric whose followers are believed to be behind much of the sectarian violence.

Mahdi, speaking after the hourlong meeting, indicated that Sadr should be dealt with as a political leader separate from his militia.

"We have to distinguish between the political line and the militia line," Mahdi told reporters.

"He is supporting the government, he has ministers in the government. And we are trying to distinguish between the undisciplined groups from the disciplined ones," he said, referring to Sadr.

(more)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060825/pl_afp/usiraqmilitary