The trust hopes the high-profile boost will encourage more black and mixed race people to donate their bone marrow to leukaemia sufferers.

BBC: NEWS | UK | England | London | Carnival route remains unchanged

Still, Keane said by starting out pacifying mixed Sunni-Shi'a neighborhoods, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki could build up enough trust to use political rather than military means to deal with the notorious militias of Sadr City.

NPR: Retired Army Generals Criticize Bush's Iraq Plan