What can be done to end the crisis in Najaf?

Mahdi army soldiers loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr take positions near the city of Najaf.

Iraqi delegates have urged Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr to end his uprising in Najaf and join the political process.

A national conference in Baghdad voted to send a negotiating team to try to defuse the stand-off between US forces and Sadr's militias in the city of Najaf.

The United Nations special representative for Iraq, Ashraf Qazi, has said he is prepared to take part in negotiations to help end the crisis.

Fighting in Najaf has been sporadic -- three American soldiers were killed overnight during clashes with Shi'ite militia.

Journalists have been ordered out of the city by police. Observers say the move indicates a major assault is imminent.

Would the situation in Iraq change if Moqtada Sadr joins the political process? Should the UN special envoy to Iraq help end the crisis in Najaf? Can the situation in Najaf get out of control? Send us your views:

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