BBC: Iraqis urge Sadr to end stand-off

[leftchick]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3569056.stm

<snip>

A national conference in Baghdad voted to send a negotiating team to try to defuse the stand-off between US forces Mr Sadr's militias in the holy city.

Three US soldiers were killed in clashes in Najaf on Sunday.

Journalists have been ordered out of the city by police. Observers say the move indicates a major assault on the city is imminent.

The United Nations special envoy to Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, has also said the UN is willing to take a negotiating role in Najaf, if invited, and if all sides agree.

"We're ready, and it's our duty to address any situation in which there's been recourse to violence," Mr Qazi told the BBC.

[hadrons]

1. misleading headline ....

should be: U.S. puppets urge Sadr to end stand-off

[Cooley Hurd]

2. I would assume that this vote was taken after the Shiite reps...

...walked out of the conference.

on edit: As always, Professor Cole's Blog is on it, including pointing out that 19 out of 20 of the US-appointed Interim Governing Council members have been given seats in the congress appointed during yesterday's meeting (the 20th, Ahmed Chalabi, wasn't granted a seat... no shit...).

[leftchick]

3. I agree....

By now I would guess most DUers know "Iraqis" mean US Puppets in official capacity. I am certain the Iraqis do.