Sadr Urges 'holy War' To Continue, But Najaf Talks Still On

NAJAF, Iraq, Aug 13 (AFP) - Radical Iraqi Shiite Muslim militia leader Moqtada Sadr called on his supporters to continue their "holy war" even if he dies a martyr, shortly after being wounded, a spokesman said Friday.
Fighting pitting the cleric`s private Mehdi Army against US troops and Iraqi security forces entered the ninth day in the Shiite pilgrimage city of Najaf.
Sadr pressed partisans to "continue the jihad (holy war) even if he dies a martyr," said Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani at the holy shrine of Imam Ali, the cleric`s stronghold in the besieged city of Najaf.
The cleric also said talks to defuse a standoff between his militia and a joint Iraq-US force have reached no deal but will continue, Shaibani added.
Talks have "achieved no solution" but would persevere, the spokesman said, as fierce fighting between the Mehdi Army and US troops entered the ninth day.