Iraq's radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has refused to meet a delegation of Iraqi political and religious leaders who want him to call off his uprising in Najaf and other areas.
An al-Sadr aide told reporters accompanying the delegation that the cleric could not meet them 'because of continued aggression by the Americans'.
The failure to hold face-to-face talks raises the possibility of a US-led offensive to crush al-Sadr's Mehdi Army militia in the city.
Eight killed in Baghdad explosion
Meanwhile, an explosion in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has killed at least eight people, including two children, and injured more than 40.
Several cars were destroyed in the blast, which happened on a crowded street in the city's business district.
First reports said the explosion was caused by a car bomb, but officials later said two or three mortar shells had struck the area.
Conference walkout threatened
Earlier, hundreds of delegates threatened to walk out of an Iraqi national conference.
Religious and political leaders said larger parties were dominating the three-day conference in Baghdad.
They promised to walk out unless changes were made to the way council members were elected.
