One of Iraq's largest Sunni Arab groups has endorsed the prime minister's plan for national reconciliation.
Sunni cleric Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al-Samaraie
In a major boost for the Shia prime minister's reconciliation proposal, prominent Sunni cleric Ahmed Abdul Ghafour al-Samaraie offered the support of his Sunni Endowment, the state agency responsible for Sunni mosques and shrines.
However, he urged the government to move quickly to fill in the details of the plan and said it should include the disbanding of armed militias, as well as the release of all prisoners who have not been convicted.
"We bless this initiative," he said. "We see a glimpse of hope out of this plan, but at the same time we are noticing that some people are pushing the armed groups to attack some areas in Baghdad, spreading terror and chaos in the city in order to make this plan a failure."
The latest political moves come a day after bombs killed at least 40 people at markets in two Iraqi cities.
A suicide car bomb detonated in the Iraqi city of Kirkuk earlier today, killing at least three people and wounding 17.
Two US soldiers were killed in separate attacks today west and south of Baghdad, while another soldier died yesterday in the Anbar province.
In the first tangible measure after the reconciliation plan was announced on Sunday, the council of ministers said government employees who had been detained and recently released will be reinstated to their jobs.
The ministers also said freed students will be allowed to return to school to take their final exams and will not be failed for the 2005-2006 school year despite time missed.
The measures were decided at the council's normal session on June 21st "to pave the way for the prime minister's reconciliation initiative," according to a statement released yesterday.
AP