Aug. 18 (Bloomberg) -- Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada al- Sadr agreed that his militia should lay down their arms and quit Najaf's Imam Ali Mosque, acceding to demands from an Iraqi delegation to end an uprising in the city, Reuters reported.

A letter from the cleric's office was read out to delegates at the government-backed Iraqi National Conference in Baghdad, saying that al-Sadr had agreed to their demands to join the country's political process, Reuters said. A spokesman for al- Sadr, Sheikh Mahmoud al-Sudani confirmed the accord to Reuters.

Al-Sadr's supporters on Aug. 5 began an uprising in Najaf and other southern cities. Clashes between al-Sadr's militia and Iraqi and U.S.-led coalition forces have killed hundreds since then, according to the Health Ministry and the U.S. military.

Iraqi Defense Minister Hazim al-Shaalan earlier said on al- Arabiya television that an assault by Iraqi forces on Najaf was imminent and would ``teach'' al-Sadr a lesson, Reuters said.

(Reuters, 8-18)

To contact the reporter on this story: Alex Morales in London at amorales2@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: August 18, 2004 12:01 EDT