Sadriyun Uprising, Day 6

The U.S. has retaken Kut. We have also called a halt to offensive operations in Falluja in order to negotiate with local shaykhs. Muqtada Sadr also condemned the kidnapping and threats against the three Japanese hostages, and a spokesperson said they prayed for their safe return. However, some insurgents near Baghdad have now taken Italian and American hostages.

UPDATE: Oxblog indicates accounts about the nature and duration of the Falluja cease-fire differ.

UPDATE: There is confusion as to whether the two Arabs kidnapped yesterday were Palestinians or Israeli Arabs, but in any case, Yasser Arafat is trying to get them released.

UPDATE: Abu Aardvark has a report that the U.S. is demanding that al-Jazeera correspondents leave Falluja prior to any negotiations.