International

Truce Talks Collapse in Najaf; New Assault Eyed

By Ivan Watson, Jennifer Ludden

Published August 13, 2004 at 9:00 PM PDT

This story was published more than 20 years ago.

Attempts by the Iraqi government to strike a lasting cease-fire deal with fighters loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr appear to have failed. U.S. forces were prepared to resume an offensive in Najaf, but have been asked to stand down. Iraq's interim prime minister says he will send in Iraqi forces instead. Hear NPR's Jennifer Ludden and NPR's Ivan Watson.

International

Ivan Watson

Ivan Watson is currently based in Istanbul, Turkey. Following the 9-11 terrorist attacks, he has served as one of NPR's foreign "firemen," shuttling to and from hotspots around the Middle East and Central Asia.

Jennifer Ludden

NPR National Correspondent Jennifer Ludden covers economic inequality, exploring systemic disparities in housing, food insecurity and wealth. She seeks to explain the growing gap between socio-economic groups, and government policies to try and change it.

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