Sadr Army Holds Fire but Stays On at Two Holy Sites
Najaf governor claims cease-fire is working, but coalition officials deny a deal was made. Some officials believe fighters are regrouping. Two beleaguered cities in southern Iraq remained quiet Monday and U.S. military officials couldn’t agree on what was causing the lull in clashes with rebels loyal to Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada Sadr. Insurgents remained in control of two holy sites about 72 hours after an Iraqi governor asked U.S. forces to partially withdraw from Najaf and Kufa, halting six weeks of fighting. Iraqi police appeared to tolerate the insurgents’ presence in the cities. Full Story