Truce talks between Shiite fighters and Iraqi officials collapsed Saturday.
The government's chief negotiator, Mouwaffaq al-Rubaie, said talks were making no progress and that he was leaving Najaf. Aides to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr blamed the United States and the Iraqi government on the breakdown.
"I feel deep sorrow and regret to announce the failure of the efforts we have exerted to end the crisis in Iraq peacefully," said al-Rubaie, according to The AP.
"Our goal was to spare blood, preserve security and for the militias to put down their weapons," he said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
