At noon on 9 April 2004, under pressure from the Governing Council, Paul Bremer announced that the U.S. forces would be unilaterally holding a ceasefire, stating that they wanted to facilitate negotiations between the Iraqi Governing Council, insurgents, and city spokespersons, and to allow government supplies to be delivered to residents.
Ved middagstid 9. april, efter pres fra det regerende råd, annoncerede Paul Bremer at de amerikanske soldater ville overholde en våbenhvile, og at der ville blive forhandlinger mellem det regerende råd, oprørerne og talsmænd fra byen, samt at forsyninger ville blive leveret til indbyggerne.