One of Ours

In an attempt to end the bloodiest fighting in Iraq and preserve the sanctity of Shiite shrines, the country's most influential cleric called today for the withdrawal of armies from the southern holy cities of Karbala and Najaf.

The Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, demanded in a statement that "armed forces" must "leave the holy cities and open the way for the police and tribal forces." He also asked for people to stage peaceful protests in city centers calling for the withdrawals...

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Senior clerics have called on Mr. Sadr to withdraw from the holy cities, but he has declined to do so. It is unlikely that he will heed Ayatollah Sistani's demands, though he has said he will disarm his militia if the grand ayatollahs ask for that...

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American officers here say the biggest indication that outside fighters are working with the Mahdi Army is the obvious skill of some of the insurgents. One particularly good sniper is believed to be a former member of the Special Republican Guard. Teams of insurgents firing mortars have also been very precise with their attacks, able to lob rounds right into the Mukhaiyam Mosque.

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"Right now, we just need to be able to go into the city," said Lt. Col. Garry R. Bishop, referring to the central shrine area. "They're using it as a sanctuary."

He said the Badr Organization, the armed wing of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, an influential Shiite party, had promised it would keep the Mahdi Army from entering the shrines. For whatever reason, it had failed to do so. American officials have been leaning on that party and on other Shiite political and religious leaders to persuade Mr. Sadr to surrender, but such efforts have been unsuccessful...