Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani is reported to have reached a peace deal Thursday with radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al- Sadr after hours of negotiation aimed at ending three weeks of conflict in Najaf. U.S. broadcaster CNN said the five-point plan included making Najaf and Kufa weapons-free cities. Under the deal, foreign forces would withdraw from the holy city of Najaf and Iraqi police would take over security. People injured or otherwise being harmed during the weeks of fighting there would be compensated. A press conference was expected to take place later Thursday to announce the agreement. The two men have been in talks all day at Sistani's home in Najaf, discussing terms to end the weeks of fighting between U.S. and Iraqi troops and al-Sadr's militia. The pact was described as a "positive deal" by aides, according to CNN. ---SP 2246 Local Time 1946 GMT
