Iraq's interim deputy president has called on US-led multinational troops to leave the Shia holy city of Najaf to end almost a week of fighting there.
"Iraqi forces can administer Najaf to end this phenomenon of violence in this city that is holy to all Muslims," Mr Ibrahim Jaafari said in remarks broadcast on Al Jazeera television today.
His remarks followed demands by interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi for Shia rebels loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to quit Najaf as soon as possible to end fierce clashes with US marines that have raged since Thursday.
But the cleric, who appeals to poor Shia youth with his anti-American rhetoric, said he would keep resisting and never leave his hometown.
Mr Jaafari told Jazeera the interim Iraqi government should keep "political bridges open" with Sadr and his loyalists. But, he said, the administration should resort to "extraordinary" means if Sadr rejected the overtures and continued fighting.
US forces say they have killed 360 Sadr loyalists so far in Najaf. Sadr's spokesmen say far fewer have died.
The fighting has stalled efforts by Mr Allawi to draw Sadr into the country's political transition.