Sadr leaves Najaf and Kufa

Shiite militiamen leave the revered Imam Ali Shrine with other protestors from elsewhere in the country in the holy city of Najaf, Iraq, Aug. 27, 2004. Iraq¡¯s radical cleric Mogtada al-Sadr ordered his militia to lay down their weapons and leave Najaf and Kufa in an appeal carried by loudspeaker on Friday.