UN welcomes peace deal

At the United Nations, Secretary-General Kofi Annan this evening welcomed efforts by al-Sistani to end three weeks of fighting in Najaf and urged all parties to respect the Imam Ali Mosque, which is revered by Muslims all over the world.

A statement from Annan’s spokesman said he was greatly dismayed by Thursday’s violent incidents in nearby Kufa and other locations in Iraq, especially the high toll of civilian deaths and injuries.