What exactly HAS al-Sadr offered? Though it's hard to hold back a sigh of relief after reading the announcements that "his followers would lay down their arms providing the Iraqi government met a series of demands." Don't be to excited about the situation.
In the statement the Sadrists seemed to resolve to "Ending armed manifestations in the governate of Basra and all the other governates" and "renounc[ing] those who carry weapons and target the government and service agencies and institutions, or [political] party offices." This was not specifically contingent on the government acquiescence in "Ending of attacks and arbitrary illegal arrests" and "apply the law on general amnesty, and release all prisoners who had not had charges confirmed against them, and particularly prisoners belonging to the Sadrist trend." Very vague, but positive. If Maliki's government even 'accepts' the statement by entering into some sort of negotiations or drawdown of troops is questionable...and even if they do it will all boil down to the implementation of the details as to whether anyone will emerge a "winner."
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