Iraqi Religious Authorities Reach Agreement on Najaf
VOA News
26 Aug 2004, 19:05 UTC
Aides to Iraq's leading Shi'ite religious authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, say he has reached a deal to end the three-week long stand-off in the holy city of Najaf led by radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
A news conference to be held shortly at the Najaf residence of Ayatollah al-Sistani is expected to outline the terms of the plan.
Last week, Moqtada al-Sadr agreed to withdraw his fighters from the city's Imam Ali Shrine and turn over the building to Najaf's religious authorities, but failed to follow-through on his promise.
A government declared cease-fire is in effect until Friday afternoon to help the Najaf peace talks. Otherwise, the Iraqi government has threatened to raid the shrine to end the crisis.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AFP.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
