October 07, 2007	Sunday	Ramazan 24, 1428

BAGHDAD, Oct 6: Two of Iraq’s most influential Shia leaders and political figures, Moqtada al-Sadr and Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, agreed a deal on Saturday aimed at ending years of deadly rivalry.

Moqtada Sadr’s movement, which ballooned in terms of support on the Iraqi streets after the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq, is backed by a thousands-strong militia known as the Mahdi Army and is the most powerful Shiite group in Iraq.

Hakim leads the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), another of the more significant Shia factions in the country and a pillar of the ruling coalition.

The two dynasties have clashed repeatedly in the past in their competition for control of Iraq’s majority Shia community.

Saturday’s accord mentioned three points aimed at “enhancing relations between the two groups and maintaining the Islamic and national interest,” a statement from Hakim’s office said.

“First: the necessity to maintain and respect the Iraqi blood (to stop bloodletting) under whatever circumstances or by any party. Bloodletting is contrary to all legislations and morals,” it said.

The remaining two points talked of uniting media and cultural efforts and setting up a joint committee with provincial branches to keep order between their respective supporters.

Liwa Sumaysim, head of the political committee of the Sadr group, confirmed the deal.

“The agreement is essentially a commitment of honour. The most important aspect is that it forbids both sides to engage in bloodletting against each other and against Iraqis in general.”The head of the SIIC media office, Hamid al-Saadi, said the deal was agreed in a “friendly spirit” and comes at an “important time for the country.””Iraq needs deals between factions in Iraq to enhance and preserve Iraqi unity,” Saadi said in a statement.

Both Sadr and Hakim hail from families that have been active in Iraq’s political and religious life for generations.

Sadr presents himself as a strong Iraqi nationalist while Hakim is seen as closer to Tehran, where he spent a number of years in exile during the rule of Saddam Hussein.

Sadr’s six ministers have boycotted the government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki since April.—AFP