Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr will end his violent standoff with American troops if the US-led coalition postpones its legal case against him and sets up an Iraqi force to patrol his stronghold of Najaf, Iraqi leaders in the city said today.

AMERICAN forces regained control of the southern Iraqi city of Kut seized this week by a rebellious Shi’ite militia as radical Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, warned America they were now fighting an “entire Iraqi nation.”

Iraqi attackers and rebellious Shiites challenged the US-led occupation force on several fronts in fierce fighting that killed dozens of Iraqis, including women and children, and at least 13 coalition troops.