Iraq's radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's latest agreement to disarm in Baghdad under a peace deal reached on Saturday with Iraq's interim government and US officials, was undoubtedly a positive move for the chaotic Middle East country on the eve of its planned elections earlier next year.

Karim al-Bakhati, who negotiated on behalf of the people in Baghdad's Sadr City district, announced the plan.

"We have agreed that starting from Monday, the Sadr movement will hand over its weapons to the Iraqi police," Bakhati said after a decisive round of talks, adding details of the arms handover locations in Sadr City would be worked out in the next day or two. He also said US Ambassador John Negroponte and an American colonel present at the meeting had promised that US forces would stop bombarding the Shi'ite slum area with immediate effect.

If carried out, the move would be seen as an important step towards ending weeks of severe fighting between al-Sadr's armed forces and US soldiers, and could restore peace in Baghdad's Sadr City district, although a Sunni-led insurgency still rages in parts of central and northern Iraq.

Al-Sadr's militia has remained a leading force opposing the US-led coalition and the US-backed Ayad Allawi's interim government following the controversial war to oust Saddam Hussein.

The uprisings spearheaded by the militia and other unceasing terrorist activities staged by other factions, have placed the country in a continuing chaotic situation. This is despite previous assurances from Washington that Iraq would become a more peaceful and democratic nation in post-Saddam era.

Allawi has been holding talks with tribal leaders and members of al-Sadr's movement to end the clashes in the city, home to about 2 million people - most of whom are Shi'ite Muslims - in an attempt to restore security and order in the violence-plagued country in time for January elections.

Bakhati's announcement has seemingly confirmed an earlier stance made by Ali Smeisem, a senior aide to al-Sadr, that militiamen loyal to the Shi'ite cleric will start handing over medium and heavy weapons from today at three police stations in Sadr City.

Last Thursday, Smeisem said that the militiamen are prepared to also hand over weapons in other regions as a peace initiative to exchange the interim government's commitments to free al-Sadr's detained aides and not to charge his followers. At the same time, he also demanded compensations from the interim for the losses the militia has suffered.

Smeisem's announcement came after the Iraq-based US force released a senior aide to al-Sadr the same day, which was thought to be a main factor behind the Shi'ite cleric's decision of the latest compromise.

The Allawi government said it welcomes the militia's agreement to disarm, and respect the government and national unity, and abide by state laws. It also said compensation and an amnesty offer could be given if the militiamen surrender weapons and make way for Iraqi security forces.

Al-Sadr's latest compromise has seemingly added a new chip to the United States and the interim government to advance the country's political process as scheduled.

Without any sign of improvement of the security situation as the date of elections draws nearer, the ability of the two has remained in serious doubt.

However, it is still too early to think that al-Sadr's latest agreement will remove the main obstacle to next year's elections. It is not clear so far whether the cleric is willing to disarm his militia in other areas beyond Sadr City.

Also, past experience has demonstrated more than once that the foundation for compromise and reconciliation between al-Sadr, a strong anti-American figure, and US forces based in Iraq and the interim government, is extremely fragile.

Without the legitimacy to wage a war against Iraq and a reasonable excuse why it still keeps military presence in the country, the United States will face difficulty in peacefully coexisting with Iraqis, especially the radicals.