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US soldiers, militiamen clash in holy city of Najaf
Najaf (Iraq), May 14: US soldiers and militiamen loyal to a radical cleric exchanged gunfire in the holy city of Najaf today. Several explosions were heard, and dozens of civilians scurried for cover. Smoke rose from two areas in the city.
Najaf (Iraq), May 14: US soldiers and militiamen loyal to a radical cleric exchanged gunfire in the holy city of Najaf today. Several explosions were heard, and dozens of
civilians scurried for cover. Smoke rose from two areas in the city.
Fighting broke out on a road leading from Najaf to the nearby city of Kufa, where cleric Muqtada al-Sadr was scheduled to deliver a sermon at Friday prayers. At least one
American tank was stationed on the road. Militiamen took cover at street corners.
Al-Sadr, a fierce opponent of the US-led occupation of Iraq, launched an uprising last month in Baghdad and several southern cities. At the same time, a coalition-backed Iraqi judge issued an arrest warrant for al-Sadr in the murder of a rival moderate cleric last year.
In his sermon in Kufa last week, al-Sadr condemned the abuse of Iraqi detainees by us soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison, and urged his followers to resist the American occupation.
Residents reported intermittent gunfire today in the southern city of Karbala, where American troops and the cleric's militia, al-Mahdi army, have fought intense battles this week.
Northeast of Baghdad, a bomb exploded in front of the house of a tribal chief, killing him and one of his daughters. The motive for the killing in Muqdadiyah of Roukan Mughir, head of the Miahi tribe, was unclear. However, residents said he had been cooperating with American forces.
Bureau Report
Al-Sadr, a fierce opponent of the US-led occupation of Iraq, launched an uprising last month in Baghdad and several southern cities. At the same time, a coalition-backed Iraqi judge issued an arrest warrant for al-Sadr in the murder of a rival moderate cleric last year.
In his sermon in Kufa last week, al-Sadr condemned the abuse of Iraqi detainees by us soldiers at Abu Ghraib prison, and urged his followers to resist the American occupation.
Residents reported intermittent gunfire today in the southern city of Karbala, where American troops and the cleric's militia, al-Mahdi army, have fought intense battles this week.
Northeast of Baghdad, a bomb exploded in front of the house of a tribal chief, killing him and one of his daughters. The motive for the killing in Muqdadiyah of Roukan Mughir, head of the Miahi tribe, was unclear. However, residents said he had been cooperating with American forces.
Bureau Report