They said that the Shiite fighters and civilians trapped in the crossfire were being slaughtered, and that 500 had been killed or wounded since Friday.

But within hours of the withdrawal of the attackers from the two villages on Friday, groups of Shiite fighters moved in.

But the uprising was crushed within a month by the Government, and the Shiite fighters fled to Iran or the marshlands.

But when questioned about their motivation, the Shiite fighters usually stress Iraqi atrocities rather than religious ideals.

The fighter said one Shiite fighter had been killed and two wounded.

At least one Shiite fighter was killed.

He was arrested for driving wounded Shiite fighters to the hospital during the uprising.

After the accord was made public, Palestinian and Shiite fighters embraced one another for the benefit of press photographers.

Clashes with artillery and rockets have recurred as Shiite fighters laid siege to the Palestinian shantytowns.