IRAQ - Feb 26 - Baghdad Curfews Lifted Outside Baghdad As Violence Ebbs.

Iraq lifts an extraordinary daylight curfew in three governorates as the wave of violence that followed Feb 23 destruction of a Shiite shrine appears to ebb outside the capital. But the ban on traffic in Baghdad - which last night suffered a mortar attack that killed 15 and wounded at least another 30 people - remained in place. In other sporadic violence on Feb 26 another seven people died, including two US soldiers. The apparent absence of organised reprisals at the weekend, however, suggests that while the destruction of the dome of the Al Askariya shrine and the ensuing wave of Shiite attacks on Sunnis has brought the country the closest it has come to sectarian civil war, key religious and political leaders on both sides have this time been both willing and able to de-escalate the crisis. Bans on vehicle traffic were lifted in the province of Salaheddin, where the Al Askariya shrine is located, as well as in Diala and Babel, both homes to mixed Sunni-Shiite populations which have witnessed sectarian violence in the past. Reports of the violence which followed the demolition of Al Askariya have often been confused, but most estimates suggest a death toll of at least 170 since Feb 23 bombing. Sunni Arab political leaders have yet to end their boycott of talks to form a national unity government, but said in a statement that they noted "positive signs" that the current Shiite-led government would address their concerns over security. They appear to have been soothed somewhat by a round of phone calls made by US Pres Bush to Iraqi leaders on Feb 25 night. Some Sunni politicians are relying on American pressure to strengthen their hand in upcoming negotiations, following a US threat that it would reduce aid to Iraq's security forces if hardline Shiite leaders remained in key security posts. The Bush administration on Feb 26 maintained that Iraq had pulled back from the brink of civil war. It also said its plans to withdraw troops remained on course as the training of Iraqis went ahead despite concerns that militia death squads had infiltrated the US-backed interior ministry. "They've stared into the abyss a bit and I think they've all concluded that further violence, further tension between the communities is not in their interest", said US national security adviser Stephen Hadley, referring to the Iraqi leadership. Sunni and Shiite religious leaders also met on Feb 25 and condemned attacks on each other's mosques. Representatives of radical Shiite theologian Muqtada Al Sadr and the Sunni Muslim Scholars Association blamed the US-led "occupiers" for stirring up sectarian tensions, but also condemned "those who excommunicate" - a phrase used to denote Sunni ultra-puritans who declare Shiite to be heretics. Sadr appeared at a rally in the southern city of Basra on Sunday to call for Muslim unity against US forces and told his followers to hold joint prayers next Friday at Sunni mosques that had been the focus of reprisal attacks.