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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The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

The only way for this to end is for Sadr to surrender and the militia to disband. I do not see this happening any time soon. Sadr is wanted for questioning in a murder investigation. To negotiate with him is to give his cause legitimacy. It will also allow more people to rally around him and drag this out for months. Many more, on both sides, are going to die before this is over.
Wayne, USA

If you let the insurgents dictate the pace of engagement this whole ordeal will turn into another Israel/Palestine never ending conflict.
John, New Richmond, WI. USA

What sort of democracy is going to be in Iraq if extremists like Moqtada could be part of the political process?
Amjad, Kuwait

Strange how the Iraqi's are sending in negotiators whereas the Americans are sending in bullets. I wonder which tactic will be more successful?
Nick, UK

The coalition troops must withdraw from Najaf as they did in Falluja. In addition, the US installed puppet government must resign and let the Iraqi people decide whether they accept or decline the existence of the occupier troops on their land.
Marianne Andrea, Nazareth

America get out of Iraq! End of story.
Tony Davis, America