Iraq's top Shia cleric Ali al-Sistani told his aides in Najaf today to prepare to accept the keys to the mosque held by rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, a London-based spokesman for Sistani said.
"His office in Najaf has been instructed to receive the sealed envelope containing the keys to the mausoleum and holy shrine when (al-Sadr's supporters) vacate," he said.
The spokesman added he was unaware if the instructions had been communicated to Sadr's followers in Najaf.
Iraqi officials earlier today said they seized control of the holy shrine. The statement was later disputed by a Sadr aide, who added "procedures are under way to hand over control of the shrine to Ayatollah Ali-Sistani".
"If the people inside the holy shrine leave it altogether, lock the doors and place the key in an envelope and take it to Sistani's office in Najaf, then he has told his people there to receive the key," Sistani's spokesman added.
Sistani was discharged from a London hospital yesterday after heart surgery, but was remaining in Britain for the time-being.