U.S. Troops Attack Militia Targets in Holy City of Najaf

[BeyondGeography]

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Published: May 14, 2004

Filed at 8:16 a.m. ET

NAJAF, Iraq (AP) -- Backed by helicopters, American tanks charged into the center of this holy city on Friday and shelled positions held by fighters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who launched an uprising against the U.S.-led coalition last month. In a sermon in a nearby city, a defiant al-Sadr condemned the United States and its chief coalition partner, Britain.

Explosions and heavy machine gun fire rocked Najaf neighborhoods for hours, and bands of militiamen with assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenades and mortar tubes roamed the city of dun-colored buildings. Smoke billowed from blasted buildings.

Al-Sadr's office close to the sacred Shrine of Imam Ali took small arms fire Friday, according to someone who answered the telephone there. The man, who refused to give his name, said he believed the shots came from rival Shiite groups opposed at al-Sadr's presence in the city.

Residents said al-Mahdi gunmen blocked all roads close to the Imam Ali shrine, barring entry to all except those with special militia badges.

Civilians scurried for cover, leaving many streets empty as the call for Friday prayers rose from loudspeakers at mosques. Some families left their homes on foot to seek refuge.

Arab television stations reported that an aide to Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Husseini al-Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shiite cleric, had urged U.S. forces and al-Sadr fighters to leave Najaf.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq.html?hp

[PassingFair]

1. Whoa!

Did this start yesterday, or today? I've been looking for info because my brother told me that we were shelling Najaf YESTERDAY, but even on Buzzflash, there had been no reports...

[Moderator]

2. duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=554158