Shiite militiamen to start handing in weapons

Shiite militiamen loyal to radical Iraqi cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have agreed to begin handing in weapons.

This is seen as a significant step toward restoring order in Baghdad’s sprawling Sadr City slum as the interim government struggles to curb Iraq’s more widespread Sunni insurgency.

In a sign of persistent Sunni unrest, clashes flared yesterday in several cities as the search continued for the body of British hostage Kenneth Bigley, who was decapitated by his abductors – reportedly after a failed escape attempt.

The news of the deal came just hours before US Defence Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld greeted American Marines at a dusty air field in Iraq’s western desert this morning on his first visit to Iraq since its interim government was installed in June.

Rumsfeld planned to give a pep talk and field questions at a “town hall” style meeting of about 1,500 Marines.

It was Rumsfeld’s sixth trip to Iraq but his first to Anbar province, which includes portions of the so-called Sunni Triangle north and west of Baghdad. The region had been the heart of tribal support for deposed president Saddam Hussein. Anbar is an insurgent stronghold, including the provincial capital of Ramadi, and the city of Fallujah, where Marines fought fierce battles last spring.

In light of the insurgent violence that is killing American troops at a rate of more than one per day throughout Iraq, Rumsfeld’s trip was not announced in advance. Reporters travelling with the secretary were instructed not to disclose his travel plans until he arrived here from Bahrain aboard an Air Force C-17 cargo plane.