NAJAF, Iraq, Aug 26 (AFP) - A military offensive against Shiite Muslim militiamen in the Iraqi city of Najaf has been temporarily suspended to allow for peace talks, the US Army confirmed Thursday.
The assault had been "temporarily suspended" to facilitate the return of Iraq`s top Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani and allow for talks between his representatives and those of rebel cleric Moqtada Sadr, it said.
The decision was taken "at the request of the local and national Iraqi government" a statement confirmed.
Iraq`s interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said earlier that all military operations had been halted for 24 hours, effective as soon as Sistani arrived in the holy city of Najaf earlier Thursday.
There have been no reports of fighting on the ground for the last three hours.