ABU DHABI Ñ The United States has reached a ceasefire accord with
the Iranian opposition based in Iraq.
U.S. officials said the ceasefire with the Mujahadeen Khalq could be the
first step in an arrangement to provide safe haven for the leadership of the
Iranian opposition, which appears on the State Department list of terrorist
groups. Iran has demanded the extradition of the Mujahadeen leadership.
Over the last week, thousands of Mujahadeen fighters fled their bases
and sought refuge. Hundreds of them arrived at the Iraqi border with Jordan,
but the Hashemite kingdom refused them entry, Middle East Newsline reported.
About 4,000 Mujahadeen fighters have been based in Iraq but did not
participate in the defense of the regime of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
The U.S.-led coalition bombed Mujahadeen bases north of Baghdad and near the
Iranian border.
"We've had some encounters of various sorts with the People's
Mujahideen," Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, deputy operations chief at U.S.
Central Command, said on Tuesday. "Some of our actions involve targeting
them with lethal fire. At this point a cease-fire is in effect and some
Mujahadeen have moved into assembly areas in non-combat formation."
The Mujahadeen was equipped by Saddam with a range of aging
Soviet-origin tanks, such as the T-55. The Iranian opposition group also was
given artillery.
Iran has also demanded that Jordan arrest and hand over the Mujahadeen
leaders and fighters who have waited to enter the Hashemite kingdom. Jordan
was said to have allowed a leading Iranian opposition cleric to enter the
kingdom to enable him to travel to France. France plans to provide the
cleric with political asylum.
Brooks said negotiations have taken place regarding the fate of the
Mujahadeen. He said Mujahadeen fighters have continued to carry weapons, but
were in what he termed a non-combat formation.
