BAGHDAD, Aug 19 (AFP) - A Baghdad-based cleric and relative of Moqtada Sadr, Sheikh Hussein al-Sadr, called Thursday on the radical Shiite militia leader to immediately accept the demands of the Iraq's national conference.
"I call upon Moqtada Sadr once again to personally and immediately declare on the satellite channels, his acceptance of the demands listed in the national conference memorandum," he told a Baghdad news conference
"We endangered our lives by choosing to go to Najaf. We could have died. Now they should give practical proof of their readiness to solve the crisis," said Sheikh Hussein al-Sadr, who had led a peace delegation to Najaf.
On Wednesday, Sadr spokesman Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani said the cleric had "accepted all the conditions extended to him," but insisted on a ceasefire with the US-led Iraqi forces for the steps to be implemented.
The cleric refused to meet eight delegates from the national conference who braved heavy fighting in the central holy city Tuesday in a bid to meet Sadr and urge him to disarm, leave his shrine stronghold and join the political process.