Al-Sader supporters hand over keys of al-Haidari courtyard to the Shiite authority

Representatives for the Shiite Clergy Muqtada al-Sader handed over the keys of the Haidari courtyard and the tomb of Imam Ali in al-Najaf to the representatives if the higher authority of the Shiite in Najaf, Ali al-Seistani, in a step observers find as an indicator of the nearby end for the bloody crisis in the city which left behind scores of killed persons.

One of the main aides of Muqtada al-Sader, Ahmad al-Sheibani, said that this step means handing over the administration of the tomb of Imam Ali to the religious authority in the city. Al-Sader asked his supporters on Thursday to hand over the keys of Imam Ali shrine.

This development comes after al-Sader has called on his followers to continue fighting. Al-Sheibani said that Muqtada al-Sader "will fight until martyrdom." The Iraqi interim prime minister Eyad Allawi warned that the military operations in Najaf will furnish for stances not in his interests and that the government should respond to the call of reasons and dialogue away from the language of threats and military action. A matter which exposes the country to unpredicted grave results.

For his part, Allawi vowed yesterday not to launch an attack against the Haidari courtyard, simultaneously accused the followers of Muqtada al-Sader on mining the shrine the Imam Ali. He said in a statement to the BBC " the branch of olive is still extended to al-Sader and his followers."

Allawi urged the Shiite leader to seek a political path for his complaints against the government and the " occupation" forces. He said "he ( al-Sader) can join the political process and he will be welcomed."