NAJAF — Shia and Sunni religious leaders met in Najaf Tuesday to discuss peace and unity in Iraq.

Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the top-ranking Shia cleric in Iraq, hosted the meeting, calling for an end to the sectarian violence that has plagued the country. Leading Sunni religious figures also attended, including Sheikh Khalid al-Mullah of the Sunni Muslim Scholars Association.

"Multi-National Force - Iraq applauds these religious leaders, who are reaching across sectarian lines to end the bloodshed," said Rear Adm. Greg Smith, MNF-I spokesman. Smith added that, while there have been other meetings between clerics and religious scholars from the two groups, this meeting is particularly promising because it is taking place in an atmosphere of reduced violence nationwide.

The an-Najaf talks come at a time when other factors, including the troop surge, the change in military tactics, the increasing effectiveness of the Iraqi security forces and the formation of Concerned Local Citizens groups, are having a positive impact on the security situation, military officials said.

According to MNF-I data, violence in Iraq is at its lowest level since January 2006. Attack levels are continuing a downward trend that began in June of this year, with the number of weekly attacks reaching its lowest level since early February 2006 -- before the Samarra mosque bombing that month. Iraqi civilian deaths have also declined in recent months, and have been on a general downward trend since December 2006.

"We continue to welcome Muqtada al-Sadr's pledge to stop attacks," said Smith, noting that other religious leaders have also shown a willingness to stop the violence. "There is still a lot of work to be done, but the efforts towards peace by Sistani, Mullah and other religious leaders, demonstrate their concern for the safety of all Iraqis. It's a very encouraging sign."