Military Showdown in Najaf Apparently Averted
VOA News
18 Aug 2004, 17:02 UTC
Radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has sent a letter to a meeting of Iraqi religious and political leaders in Baghdad agreeing to government demands to end an uprising in the holy city of Najaf.
In the letter sent by his Baghdad office, the cleric apparently agreed to government demands that he dissolve his militia, leave the Imam Ali mosque and join Iraq's political process.
Aides to the cleric confirmed that he has agreed to the plan.
Moqtada al-Sadr's response comes just hours after Iraq's interim defense minister said Shi'ite militiamen fighting in Najaf must immediately surrender or face a major assault to crush the two week long uprising.
Despite the agreement, gunfire and explosions could still be heard in Najaf Wednesday evening.
Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.
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