| (KUNA) -- The Iraqi government welcomed Sunday the orders issued by Shiite religious cleric Moqtada Al-Sadr to his followers in the Mahdi Army and the Sadrist bloc to put down their arms. Spokesman for the Iraqi government Ali Al-Dabbag, in a press release, said the government welcomed this call which would serve to avoid bloodshed, adding that this reflected Al-Sadr's keenness for maintaining the safety of civilians. Security is the responsibility of the government, and the government does not target a certain movement or faction, he stressed, hoping that the Sadrist bloc would support the government. |