BAGHDAD – The U.S. military expressed hope Sunday for a diplomatic solution to seven weeks of fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City as a fragile cease-fire settled over the Shiite slum that houses nearly half the capital's 6 million people.

No violence was reported as shops reopened on the first day of the cease-fire brokered by Shiite lawmakers and representatives of Muqtada al-Sadr's political movement, who are thought to have influence over the extremists.

Al-Sadr followers distributed food in the neighborhood, residents said.

"We're doing limited operations in Sadr City as this implementation process takes place," said Rear Adm. Patrick Driscoll, a U.S. military spokesman.

He warned a truce had not yet been brokered. Iraq's government was still talking to Shiite representatives, he said.

"It is important to emphasize that it is an ongoing dialogue process," Adm. Driscoll said. "It is premature to say there is an agreed to truce."

There was no comment Sunday from the Iraqi government.

The U.S. military has repeatedly said its clashes are with rogue elements of Mr. al-Sadr's Mahdi Army. The bulk of al-Sadr's 60,000-strong Mahdi Army is not believed to have participated in the fighting, instead adhering to a general cease-fire ordered by Mr. al-Sadr last August.

"Hopefully, there will be a diplomatic solution to the problem," Adm. Driscoll said.

The Associated Press