BEIRUT, Aug 27 (AFP) - German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said he hoped that the ceasefire in the Iraqi city of Najaf would allow the application of a UN agreement for the peaceful reconstruction of the war-ravaged country.
"We will be very happy and satisfied if the ceasefire in Najaf will be really sustainable," Fischer said after talks with Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.
"We think that the international community should closely cooperate on the political field to support the implementation of the agreement which was reached under the supervision of Lakhdar Ibrahimi," he said, referring to the world body's special representative in Iraq.
"We think this is the option which will lead to a more peaceful Iraq where reconstruction will be in the forefront and not terror and violence."
In Najaf, Shiite Muslim militia leader Moqtada Sadr ceded control of his shrine stronghold to representatives of the religious leadership following a deal with Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani to end three weeks of deadly fighting.
Fischer arrived here earlier on the first leg of a Middle Eastern tour which will also include talks about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Syria, Jordan, Israel and Egypt.
He was met at the airport by his Lebanese counterpart, Jean Obeid, and was driven straight to the Baabda Palace for talks. He was also due to meet with President Emile Lahoud and Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri.
On Saturday, Fischer heads for Syria by road and on the way will visit the Ummayyad ruins at Anjar in the eastern Bekaa valley, according to members of his delegation.