CAIRO, Egypt, Aug 12, SPA -- Arabs states and Iran called for ahalt to fighting in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf on Thursday, as thousands of U.S. and Iraqi soldiers launched a major push to defeat Shiite militia holed up in the city's shrine and cemetery. Egypt urged the Iraqi and U.S. troops to employ dialogueinstead of force in Najaf, and Iranian Foreign Ministryspokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said the world should intervenequickly to "prevent the massacre of defenseless Iraqipeople." In Cairo, Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa warnedthat the violation of sacred Muslim places could have"serious repercussions." Hours after Thursday's offensive began, Iraqi healthauthorities said five civilians had been killed and threewounded. The fighting in Najaf is "a painful and sad shedding ofIraqi blood," Moussa said Thursday. "The violent confrontations going on for days in Najafare not a positive sign for the near or far future of Iraq,and even beyond Iraq," Moussa added.--MOR1549 Local Time 1249 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/191264