Militants loyal to firebrand Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said today they handed over the keys to – but not control of – a revered Muslim shrine to Shiite religious leaders.

IRAQI politicians and a top Shi'ite cleric are due to sign the new Iraqi interim constitution charter today.

The UN is close to backing an American and Iraqi request to deploy experts who would assess whether Iraq could hold elections by May for a transitional government, diplomats revealed.