Two of Iraq's most influential Shiites, cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and politician Abdel Aziz al-Hakim, signed a deal on Saturday aimed at ending months of deadly rivalry. The three-point accord was aimed at "enhancing relations between the two groups and to maintain the Islamic and national interest," a statement from Hakim said, according to AFP.
"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 about uniting their media and cultural attempts and setting of a joint committee with provincial branches to keep order between their factions.
Hakim is the head of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC), the most powerful Shiite faction in the country and a pillar of the ruling coalition.
At the end of August, Sadr ordered his militiamen to observe a six-month ceasefire, including a halt to attacks on US forces.
