Sistani, Sadr reach Najaf deal

From correspondents in Najaf, Iraq
August 27, 2004
AN agreement has been reached between aides of Iraq's top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Najaf, battered by 22 days of fighting, a representative said today.

"An agreement has been reached and you will hear something cheerful soon," the aide told reporters outside the villa where Sistani has been resting since his arrival in Najaf earlier.

The source did not give his name and pressed journalists to wait for an announcement in full.

Yes, for the 27th time in the past three weeks, Al Sadr has agreed to a settlement. I wonder how many minutes he will stick to THIS agreement. My guess: 11 minutes and 15 seconds.

"This time for sure, Rocky" -- Bulwinkle J Moose (Jay Ward)