Shiite militants loyal to rebelcleric Moqtada al-Sadr would suspend fighting with US-led Iraqi forces in the holy city of Najaf in honor of the arrival of Grand Ayatollah Ali Husseini al-Sistani, a statement said Wednesday.

According to the statement issued by Sadr's office in Basra, Sadr also ordered his Mehdi Army militia to suspend fighting in every region al-Sistani would pass through on his way to Najaf.

Sistani, Iraq's top Shiite Muslim cleric, arrived in the southern city of Basra from Kuwait on Wednesday after returning from London, where he received medical treatment for three weeks. He has called on Iraqis to join him in a march Thursday to Najaf to stop the fighting that has lasted for about 20 days and resulted in the death of hundreds of people.

It was widely expected that the moderate Shiite leader could defuse the crisis in the holy city by his march and his undeclared initiative.

Source: Xinhua