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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Freed Sadr aide meets Iraq's PM | Freed Sadr aide meets Iraq's PM |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An Iraqi militia leader once branded a major security threat has appeared in public alongside Iraq's prime minister after being freed from US custody. | An Iraqi militia leader once branded a major security threat has appeared in public alongside Iraq's prime minister after being freed from US custody. |
| Ahmed Shibani is a senior aide to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, whose political movement plays a key role in Iraq's power-sharing coalition. | Ahmed Shibani is a senior aide to radical Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr, whose political movement plays a key role in Iraq's power-sharing coalition. |
| Mr Shibani met Nouri Maliki hours after Iraqi government officials said they were talking with insurgent groups. | Mr Shibani met Nouri Maliki hours after Iraqi government officials said they were talking with insurgent groups. |
| The US-led coalition said Mr Shibani could help moderate extremism in Iraq. | The US-led coalition said Mr Shibani could help moderate extremism in Iraq. |
| In a statement, the coalition said leaders judged that Mr Shibani "could play a potentially important role in helping to moderate extremism and foster reconciliation in Iraq." | In a statement, the coalition said leaders judged that Mr Shibani "could play a potentially important role in helping to moderate extremism and foster reconciliation in Iraq." |
| Also on Thursday: | |
| |
| 'No other option' | 'No other option' |
| Mr Shibani was seen being photographed with the prime minister and was also interviewed on Iraqi TV. | Mr Shibani was seen being photographed with the prime minister and was also interviewed on Iraqi TV. |
| Iraqi news reports say negotiations for his release appear to have been carried out by the Iraqi government. | Iraqi news reports say negotiations for his release appear to have been carried out by the Iraqi government. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I fully agree with the talks between the insurgents and the government, let's hope it is a start for the better Terry Should Iraq talk to militants? The BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says this is a clear sign of government confidence in Moqtada Sadr and his followers in the Mehdi Army. | HAVE YOUR SAY I fully agree with the talks between the insurgents and the government, let's hope it is a start for the better Terry Should Iraq talk to militants? The BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad says this is a clear sign of government confidence in Moqtada Sadr and his followers in the Mehdi Army. |
| The group has largely been co-operating with the Baghdad security plan imposed in mid-February. | The group has largely been co-operating with the Baghdad security plan imposed in mid-February. |
| The US military jailed Mr Shibani at a military prison more than two years ago after detaining him during an uprising against the occupation in the Shia town of Najaf. | The US military jailed Mr Shibani at a military prison more than two years ago after detaining him during an uprising against the occupation in the Shia town of Najaf. |
| At the time the US military described him as a major threat to Iraq's security. | At the time the US military described him as a major threat to Iraq's security. |
| On Wednesday Saad Yousif al-Muttalibi, of Iraq's Ministry of National Dialogue and Reconciliation, said the government was talking to a range of insurgent groups. | On Wednesday Saad Yousif al-Muttalibi, of Iraq's Ministry of National Dialogue and Reconciliation, said the government was talking to a range of insurgent groups. |
| And Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi told the BBC there was no option but to hold talks with all armed groups, with the exception of Iraq's al-Qaeda movement. | And Vice-President Tareq al-Hashemi told the BBC there was no option but to hold talks with all armed groups, with the exception of Iraq's al-Qaeda movement. |