Muqtada Al-Sadr's call to his supporters to stop shotting has ended battles between Iraqi security forces and the Mahdi Army in Basra and other Iraqi cities.
A senior Iraqi security official revealed that to achieve the calm, there had been contacts with Al-Sadr and with Iranian elements, in Qom and in Tehran.
No final agreement has been reached between the sides, and the Mahdi Army is determined to topple the government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki by political means.
It was reported that the Sadrists have refused to hand over their weapons "which are designated for war against the occupation."
Sources: Al-Sharq Al-Awsat, Al-Hayat, London, April 1, 2008
