Iraq:The group's return could strengthen the hand of Nouri al-Maliki ahead of a campaign to impose security in Baghdad, writes Michael Jansen.
Deputies from the faction of radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr announced yesterday that they were ending a boycott of parliament and government imposed when Iraqi prime minister Nouri al-Maliki met US president George Bush in Amman late last November.
Saleh Hassan al-Igali, a Sadrist deputy, said the faction decided to take this step after receiving a pledge from the assembly that it would fix a timetable for the withdrawal of US troops, a long-standing demand of the cleric.
By returning to the assembly and cabinet, the group could strengthen Maliki's hand ahead of the US-Iraqi campaign to impose security in Baghdad.
Sadr's faction has 32 legislators in the 128-member Shia bloc in the 275-seat parliament, and holds the ministries of health, transport, agriculture, public works, tourism and civil affairs.
Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman observed that the return of the Sadrists was an indication "that they want to be part of the political process and not resort to violent methods at a time when Iraqi and US forces are targeting militias".
Last week, Sadr ordered commanders and members of his Mehdi army militia, estimated to number 60,000, not to fire a shot during the current Islamic holy month of Muharram, during which the joint operation against insurgents and Shia militias is set to begin.
The Iraqi daily Azzaman reported that Sadr told his followers to avoid clashes with the US military. Officers have already abandoned Sadr City, the faction's stronghold in Baghdad, and made for the southern provinces where the Sadrists are also influential.
Since the Mehdi army does not have bases or strongpoints, its members can simply melt into the population and hide their weapons, as they did after being defeated during two battles with US troops in 2004.
Although Sadrists vowed retribution on Friday when US and Iraqi forces raided a mosque in Sadr City and arrested Sheikh Abdul Hadi al-Darraji, Sadr's media director in Baghdad, Mehdi army elements are likely to heed Sadr's order to abstain from violence.
The latter may even be relieved over the sheikh's detention. He was associated with Ismail al-Zarjawi, known as "Abu Deraa", a petty criminal who became an early recruit in the Mehdi army and is blamed for many of the worst atrocities committed by black-clad Sadrist militiamen.
His ruthlessness and cruelty led Sadr to put Abu Deraa on a list of men dismissed from the Mehdi army.
Until last week, Abu Deraa seemed to continue to enjoy Sadrist protection, but the arrest of Darraji may have been intended by Maliki as a message to Sadr that he should distance himself from rogue elements once attached to the Mehdi army, whom he blames for killings and sectarian cleansing of Sunnis.
At least a third of the estimated 60,000 members of the Mehdi army are said to belong to these groups, which arm and sustain themselves by robbing, kidnapping and other criminal activities.
By bolstering the premier, Sadr may hope to encourage Maliki to resist Washington's demand for action against the Mehdi army.
Maliki has, in recent weeks, made a show of independence from Washington and has refused to carry out tasks assigned to him by the US, including tackling Shia militias.
Maliki also needs Sadrist parliamentarians to constitute a quorum since many deputies now dwell abroad because they fear for their lives.
Sadrist backing is also required to pass all-important legislation on the central control and distribution of oil revenues, the adoption of which is a major US demand.