Baghdad: Iraqi Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr asked his followers to be patient in following a ceasefire, according to a statement read out in a Baghdad mosque on Friday.

"You are the best who committed and were patient with the decision to cease fire… I wish you would continue your patience and your belief," according to the statement.

"When we threatened 'open war' we meant a war against the occupier, not a war against our Iraqi brothers," it said.