NAJAF, Iraq, Aug 15 (AFP) - The Shiite militia of rebel leader Moqtada Sadr said Sunday they were ready to face a renewed US-led attack on their bastions in Iraq's holy city of Najaf after the breakdown of peace talks.
"We are waiting for the fighting to resume and we are ready for that," said Ali Smeisim, a spokesman for the fiery cleric.
Shortly after the talks broke down on Saturday, "the Americans took up position in the cemetery and at the entrance to the old city and they are preparing for a very big attack to kill the residents of Najaf," he charged.
The spokesman blamed the failure of the talks, after more than a week of heavy fighting between Sadr's Mehdi Army and US-led Iraqi government forces, on Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.
The premier telephoned national security advisor Muwafaq al-Rubaie just minutes before he was to sign a peace agreement that Sadr had already signed, Smeisim said.
"Rubaie would have signed the agreement because we agreed on all the points... but unfortunately Rubaie suddenly had a phone call from Allawi that ordered him to withdraw and finish everything," he said.