Crowds join cleric on peace convoy

Thousands of Iraqis today joined their senior cleric in a peace convoy to Najaf to try to end the conflict at the holy city.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, 73, leader of Iraq's Shia Muslims, set off from Basra early this morning to make the 250-mile journey.

The cleric called for "all believers" to march to Najaf, his home city, to try to end the military confrontation between US forces and Shia fighters loyal to rebel leader Moqtada al-Sadr. Helicopters hovered above while armed guards in utility vehicles protected the ayatollah during the journey.

Ayatollah al-Sistani returned to Iraq on Wednesday after heart treatment at

a London hospital and met representatives of the Iraqi interim government before setting off on his journey.

When he arrives in Najaf, he is expected to unveil an initiative to end the three-week stand-off there.

According to aides, the cleric's peace plan entails weapon-free zones in both Najaf and Kufa, an al-Sadr stronghold nearby.

Under the plans, Iraqi police would replace foreign troops in the city whi le compensat ion would be paid to people affected by the fighting.

US warplanes bombed targets in Najaf yesterday and Iraqi and US troops have imposed tight controls on the city, preventing cars from entering.

Ayatollah al-Sistani left Iraq for medical treatment just as the uprising in Najaf began. He was met with a rapturous welcome on his return.

It is hoped he can finally end the stand-off. The ayatollah was instrumental in brokering an earlier ceasefire.

Speaking yesterday, the cleric said: "I have come for the sake of Najaf and I will stay in Najaf until the crisis ends."

But al-Sadr, who has challenged the leadership of the Najaf clergy and styled himself as the face of anti-US Shia resistance, has also called on his supporters to march on Najaf.

Such an influx of large numbers of Shi'ites from r ival g roups could inflame tensions and worsen the violence.

Meanwhile, a mortar attack on the main mosque in Kufa killed 25 people and wounded 60 others today. One mortar shell hit the mosque itself and two others hit near the mosque gates.

Thousands of people were crowded around the mosque at the time and ambulances raced to the scene to take scores of wounded to a nearby hospital.

The MPs, led by Welsh Nationalist Adam Price, accuse the Prime Minister of "high crimes and misdemeanours" in the run-up to the conflict.