Sadr urges militia, Iraqi forces to stop fighting

NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on his Mehdi Army militia and Iraqi security forces on Sunday to stop fighting in the volatile city of Diwaniya and accused U.S. forces of fomenting civil strife.

Iraqi and U.S. forces have clashed with militiamen in Diwaniya since launching an operation on Friday to wrest control of the southern city from the Mehdi Army. The Pentagon says the militia is the greatest threat to peace in Iraq.

"And here we can see in ... (Diwaniya), a civil strife the occupier planned, to drag the brothers into clashing, fighting and even killing," said the statement which was distributed in the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf and stamped with Sadr's seal.

Sadr has been keeping a low profile for several months. The U.S. military says he is in neighboring Shi'ite Iran, but his aides insist the cleric is in Iraq and have denied suggestions he fled to escape a new U.S.-backed security crackdown.

"Oh (Mehdi Army) and my brothers (Iraqi forces) enough of this clashing and killing. This is success for your enemy ... and (Iraqi army and police) don't be dragged behind the enemy," said the statement.

"God has ordered you to be patient in front of the enemy and to unify your efforts against it, not against the sons of Iraq."

The military operation continued in Diwaniya on Sunday, but Iraqi security officials said violence had eased. Diwaniya has been the scene of fierce battles between U.S. and Iraqi forces and militiamen in past months.

Sadr, who has called on Iraqis to protest in Najaf on Monday against the continued U.S. presence in Iraq, is a key supporter of Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and his movement has one of the biggest blocs of seats in parliament.