Peace deal for Holy Najaf is reached

By: Ismail Zabeeh

HOLY CITY OF NAJAF, Iraq: Hamed Al-Khafaf, an aide to Ayatullah Ali Husseini As-Sistani has told that Muqtada As-Sadr has agreed to a peace deal presented by Sistani to end three weeks of fighting in the holy city of Najaf.

Talking to reporters at a news conference in Holy Najaf, Thursday, Al-Khaffaf said the peace plan called for Najaf and Kufa to be declared weapons-free cities, for all foreign forces to withdraw from Najaf and leave security to the police, and for the government to compensate those harmed by the fighting.

He said Sadr agreed to all points of Sistani's five-point peace plan to end fighting. The plan involves Sadr's Mehdi Army militiamen leaving the sacred Imam Ali (p) shrine. US-led forces are also to leave Holy Najaf and Kufa, with security being turned over to Iraqi police.

Sadr’s militia will leave the holy shrine before Friday prayers.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi government accepted the peace deal brokered by Ayatullah Sistani, State Minister Qassim Dawoud said early Friday. “Brothers, we have entered the door to peace,” he said.

Tens of thousands of Iraqis have converged on Najaf, heeding calls by Sistani to march on the city.

Sistani's 30-vehicle convoy, greeted by thousands and escorted by dozens of police and national guard patrol vehicles, crawled along at 20 kilometres (12 miles) an hour on the long 400-kilometre (250-mile) journey north from Basra on Thursday.

At towns along the way, thousands of men, women, children and the elderly, lined the streets to greet Sistani.

Behind the vehicles containing the ayatollah and his aides, more than 1,000 cars, pick-up trucks, taxis and buses were packed with Iraqis of all ages, waving banners and pictures of Ayatullah Sistani.

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