BAGHDAD, Feb 22: Cleric Moqtada Al Sadr extended a ceasefire by his Mehdi Army militia for six months on Friday.

The United States military said in a statement that it was ready for dialogue with Mr Sadr’s movement. White House spokesman Scott Stanzel said it was a positive step “to the extent that this will help reduce the violence”.

United Nations special envoy to Iraq Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the move would encourage a national dialogue.

However, a number of Mehdi Army members expressed unhappiness with the order, which they believed would expose them to attacks by US forces, but said they would obey.

“We knew there would be an extension of the freeze, but we thought it would be for a shorter period and we expected to be allowed to act in self-defence against US forces. Now, after this statement, we can’t defend ourselves,” said Amer Al Moussawi, a member of the militia in Najaf.

“We have extended the freezing of activities of the Mehdi Army,” said Asaad Al Naseri, an imam at a mosque in Kufa, reading a statement by Mr Sadr.

He said the renewal would last until mid-August.

A senior Sadrist said the cleric had extended the truce so that rogue members of the Mehdi Army could continue to be weeded out.

Deputy Prime Minister Barham Saleh praised the move. “I hope this suspension will culminate in the ultimate dissolution of armed groups.”—Reuters