Delegation to urge Iraq’s Sadr to end Najaf fight

BAGHDAD – Iraqis meeting to pick an interim national assembly agreed to send a delegation to the holy city of Najaf yesterday in an attempt to convince a radical Shi’ite cleric to end a bloody conflict with US troops.

In Najaf, militia loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr fought intermittent skirmishes with US and Iraqi forces near the Imam Ali Mosque and an ancient cemetery. The move to send the delegation came after the Najaf fighting again dominated a meeting in Baghdad where 1 300 political and religious leaders will select an assembly to oversee the interim government of prime minister Iyad Allawi.Three US soldiers were killed in action on Sunday in Najaf province, the military said in a statement.It gave no details.A French journalist holding a US passport has been seized in the southern city of Nassiriya, Al Jazeera television reported.The television said it had “learned” the journalist was an archaeological reporter.The interior ministry said it was checking reports that journalist Micah Jaren and his Iraqi translator were missing in Nassiriya.The French and American embassies said they had no information on the report.Last week, gunmen kidnapped and then freed a British journalist in the southern city of Basra.Militants in Iraq have waged a campaign of kidnapping aimed at driving out individuals, companies and troops supporting US forces and the new Iraqi interim administration.Despite the apparent pro-government stance of the delegation, the conference has exposed deep divisions in Iraq over Najaf, with many delegates upset that US forces are fighting so close to Shi’ite Islam’s holiest site.Some have threatened to quit an event already beset by boycotts from players such as Sadr and other religious groups.”I can tell you that the Najaf fighting is dominating the whole conference,” said Hamid al-Kifaey, one delegate.- Nampa-ReutersThe move to send the delegation came after the Najaf fighting again dominated a meeting in Baghdad where 1 300 political and religious leaders will select an assembly to oversee the interim government of prime minister Iyad Allawi.Three US soldiers were killed in action on Sunday in Najaf province, the military said in a statement.It gave no details.A French journalist holding a US passport has been seized in the southern city of Nassiriya, Al Jazeera television reported.The television said it had “learned” the journalist was an archaeological reporter.The interior ministry said it was checking reports that journalist Micah Jaren and his Iraqi translator were missing in Nassiriya.The French and American embassies said they had no information on the report.Last week, gunmen kidnapped and then freed a British journalist in the southern city of Basra.Militants in Iraq have waged a campaign of kidnapping aimed at driving out individuals, companies and troops supporting US forces and the new Iraqi interim administration.Despite the apparent pro-government stance of the delegation, the conference has exposed deep divisions in Iraq over Najaf, with many delegates upset that US forces are fighting so close to Shi’ite Islam’s holiest site.Some have threatened to quit an event already beset by boycotts from players such as Sadr and other religious groups.”I can tell you that the Najaf fighting is dominating the whole conference,” said Hamid al-Kifaey, one delegate.- Nampa-Reuters