IRAQ’S radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr yesterday ordered his fighters off the streets, paving the way for an end to clashes with security forces that have killed hundreds of people.

    “We want the Iraqi people to stop this bloodshed and maintain Iraq’s independence and stability,” Sadr said in a statement with his seal released by his headquarters in the holy city of Najaf.

    Sadr’s call came after six days of fighting between Shiite fighters and Iraqi forces in the southern port city of Basra, Baghdad and several other Shiite regions that have killed at least 270 people.

    The clashes erupted Tuesday when Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki launched an assault on Shiite militants in neighborhoods of Basra controlled by the Mehdi Army, the most powerful Shiite militants in the violence-ravaged country.

    Sadr’s call came after negotiations in Najaf that began Saturday between representatives of his movement and the Iraqi authorities.

    The Iraqi capital and Basra both remained under curfew yesterday.

    The U.S. military acknowledged yesterday that its ground troops had started participating in the Basra assault.

    A team of American special forces joined the battle in Basra, combining with Iraqi troops in an operation that killed 22 militants Saturday.

    U.S. and British forces have said they have been giving air support to operations since Tuesday. (SD-Agencies)