US agrees deal to halt holy city offensive

The US-led coalition agreed today to suspend offensive operations in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf after Shiite leaders struck a deal with rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to end the bloody standoff which has threatened some of Shia Islam’s holiest shrines.

Coalition spokesman Dan Senor said in Baghdad that US and coalition troops would remain in Najaf until Iraqi security forces could resume their operations in the city and take control of strategic buildings from al-Sadr’s militia,