Al-Sadr Orders Troops to Cease Fire; Curfew Ends

Islamic cleric Moqdata Al-Sadr on Sunday ordered his followers to stop battling Iraqi troops. In a statement the Shi’a leader said he called for a cease-fire, "because of the religious responsibility, and to stop Iraqi blood being shed…" He called on his followers to work with Iraqi officials to restore order. Al-Sadr’s Mehdi Army had been fighting in locations across Iraq since last week. A curfew that had been in place in Baghdad for three days was lifted as of 6:00 a.m. Monday morning.