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Iraq's Shia militia 'stood down' Iraq's Shia militia 'stood down'
(20 minutes later)
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says the Shia militia known as the Mehdi Army has stopped its activities on the orders of its leader, Moqtada Sadr.Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says the Shia militia known as the Mehdi Army has stopped its activities on the orders of its leader, Moqtada Sadr.
The president described this as a new phenomenon, and a positive response to the new Iraqi-US security plan.The president described this as a new phenomenon, and a positive response to the new Iraqi-US security plan.
He was speaking after receiving the new US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, who expressed hope for progress towards stability and prosperity.He was speaking after receiving the new US ambassador to Iraq, Ryan Crocker, who expressed hope for progress towards stability and prosperity.
But it came as officials said a bombing last week was Iraq's deadliest ever.But it came as officials said a bombing last week was Iraq's deadliest ever.
The interior ministry raised the death toll from Tuesday's truck bomb in a market in the town of Talafar to 152, making it the deadliest single attack of the insurgency.The interior ministry raised the death toll from Tuesday's truck bomb in a market in the town of Talafar to 152, making it the deadliest single attack of the insurgency.
THE MEHDI ARMY Who are Iran's Mehdi Army? THE MEHDI ARMY Who are Iraq's Mehdi Army?
Spokesman Brig Abdul Kareem Khalaf explained the delay in raising the death toll, saying 100 homes had been destroyed in the main blast.Spokesman Brig Abdul Kareem Khalaf explained the delay in raising the death toll, saying 100 homes had been destroyed in the main blast.
"It took us a while to recover all the bodies from underneath the rubble of the homes... what did they achieve by using two tonnes of explosive to kill and wound 500 in a residential area?""It took us a while to recover all the bodies from underneath the rubble of the homes... what did they achieve by using two tonnes of explosive to kill and wound 500 in a residential area?"
However the figure of 152 was disputed by the mayor of the town, and dismissed by the US, which said the official count was still 83 dead.However the figure of 152 was disputed by the mayor of the town, and dismissed by the US, which said the official count was still 83 dead.
The bomb attacks sparked a series of reprisals, apparently by Shia policemen, in which dozens of Sunni men were taken from their homes and shot dead.The bomb attacks sparked a series of reprisals, apparently by Shia policemen, in which dozens of Sunni men were taken from their homes and shot dead.
The Reuters agency said vehicle and suicide bombings - which are generally blamed on Sunni extremists - had killed 400 people in Shia areas across the country in the past week.The Reuters agency said vehicle and suicide bombings - which are generally blamed on Sunni extremists - had killed 400 people in Shia areas across the country in the past week.
Analysts say the bombing campaign has continued largely unabated since the Iraqi government, backed by US troops, launched a security crackdown in Baghdad in February.Analysts say the bombing campaign has continued largely unabated since the Iraqi government, backed by US troops, launched a security crackdown in Baghdad in February.
Reprisals by Shia militias on Sunnis, however, have reportedly fallen off since the crackdown was imposed.Reprisals by Shia militias on Sunnis, however, have reportedly fallen off since the crackdown was imposed.
Mr Crocker is hoping for stability, prosperity and friendshipMr Crocker is hoping for stability, prosperity and friendship
The Mehdi Army is one of the groups blamed for such attacks. It has been described by the US as the greatest threat to security in Iraq.The Mehdi Army is one of the groups blamed for such attacks. It has been described by the US as the greatest threat to security in Iraq.
"People now are cooperating with government forces against terrorism as part of the security plan," Mr Talabani said."People now are cooperating with government forces against terrorism as part of the security plan," Mr Talabani said.
"Not to mention the fact that the Mehdi Army has become inactive."Not to mention the fact that the Mehdi Army has become inactive.
"Apparently the instructions of brother Moqtada Sadr have been effective, whereby there are no longer complaints by brother Sunni Arabs about attacks against them like before.""Apparently the instructions of brother Moqtada Sadr have been effective, whereby there are no longer complaints by brother Sunni Arabs about attacks against them like before."