US military commanders in Iraq say sporadic attacks continue against coalition forces in Fallujah, but that the situation in most of southern and central Iraq is now stable.
US Generals John Abizaid and Ricardo Sanchez said on Monday, the coalition is once again in control of Kut, Nasiriyah and Hillah.
But General Sanchez said because of Shi'ite religious observances in the holy cities of Karbala and Najaf, parts of those cities remain under the influence of radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's militia.
General Sanchez said it is the mission of US forces to kill or capture Moqtada al-Sadr.
In Fallujah, site of the past week's fierce fighting between Sunni insurgents and US Marines, Iraqi mediators met with anti-coalition leaders today (Monday).
A US initiated cease-fire appeared to hold into Monday evening, except for a few reported incidents of gunfire. But there was no word on whether the cease-fire would be extended past its Monday night expiration.
General Abizaid, the top U-S commander for Iraq, cited intelligence that Iran is engaged in what he called some "unhelpful" activities in Iraq. But he said some elements in Iran have tried to urge calm.