Iraq's Shiite Hub Awaits Its Day

"It would serve us well, because we have the majority of followers and could dominate it," he said. "But it would divide Iraq along sectarian lines, and to us this very idea is unacceptable."

In late August, Sadr's Najaf office was set ablaze and four of his supporters were killed when a demonstration against him turned violent. Sadr aides initially blamed the Badr Organization, the Supreme Council's militia, and the Mahdi Army attacked Badr offices across southern Iraq. Sadr called off his troops at the urging of Jafari and the country's leading Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani. Sadr declared that the Supreme Council was not responsible for the attack on his office, but bitterness among his followers remains.

"We know who did this. We saw Badr leaders among the crowd, and we have not forgotten. Sayyid Moqtada did not want to incite strife among the Shiites," said Mohan Abdul-Hussein, 27, a fighter with the Mahdi Army, referring to Sadr with an honorific connoting descent from the prophet Muhammad. "We are patient for now, but if something like this ever happens again, we will not stop, no matter what."

In interviews, representatives of the Shiites' four most revered religious leaders blamed the fighting on "outsiders" -- as they describe insurgents -- and said the clerics would keep the militias in line.

Among Shiites, an ayatollah considered to be a marja -- a religious authority to be emulated by his followers -- "plays the role of a father of everyone in this dispute," said Ali Bashir, the son of the third-ranking cleric. "And while we cannot choose between a son and a son, we will ensure there will be no more fighting.

"The marja wants only unity among Shiites in southern Iraq," he added. "What form that takes is up to the people to decide."

U.S. officials have said they fear that a southern Shiite state would be closely tied to neighboring Iran, a Shiite-majority country that American diplomats have called the most significant long-term threat to Iraq's interests. They are also concerned such a state could be dominated by clerics rather than secular politicians.

Interviews with about a dozen people here this week suggested a relatively even split between supporters and opponents of federalism. Most said they intended to vote in favor of the constitution Saturday. Nearly 20,000 Iraqi troops will be in the streets during the voting, with U.S. troops standing by at bases outside the city.

Asked about U.S. concerns, Hussein Hajar, a high school teacher who said he supported the idea of federalism, replied: "Why should we not choose how we live, how we educate people, how we elect our leaders the way that fits us, even if it is not what they want? Why should we not govern ourselves."

While many people mentioned the tension between the militias, most expressed optimism that the division could be overcome.

"Three years ago we were in ruins. One year ago we were fighting in the streets. Even this summer we had terrorist attacks. Look at the people, out shopping and eating and not in fear," said Majid Safar Ali, 50, who sells black fabric for abayas , or women's traditional robes, at a stall in Najaf's bazaar. "Even if the violence and other problems started again 100 more times, we can cool it down. We did it before."

Special correspondents Naseer Nouri and Saad Sarhan contributed to this report.