In August , a full-fledged battle erupted between the militia and the Americans , a battle that ended when Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani , the country 's most powerful Shiite cleric and a resident of Najaf , persuaded Mr. Sadr to lay down his arms .
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani /people/person/place_lived Najaf
IN NNP , DT JJ NN VBD IN DT NN CC DT NNPS , DT NN WDT VBD WRB NNP NNP NNP NNP , DT NN POS RBS JJ JJ JJ CC DT NN IN NNP , VBD NNP NNP TO VB RP PRP$ NNS .
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani
PERSON
Najaf
LOCATION
/people/person/place_lived