Posted on 05/14/2004 12:34:54 AM PDT by Eurotwit
NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) - Explosions and fierce clashes broke out in the holy Shiite city of Najaf between US forces and militiamen loyal to firebrand cleric Moqtada Sadr, an AFP correspondent said.
At least three US tanks were seen in a cemetery about one kilometre (less than a mile) from the holy Imam Ali Shrine and militiamen were seen fanning out across the area.
Heavy black smoke was seen rising from the cemetery and the sound of heavy guns was heard.
US helicopters hovered over the area as armed black-clad men veiled with scarves were seen running inside the sprawling cemetery, northwest of the city centre.
Gunfire and loud explosions were also heard coming from an area south of Najaf known as Bahr al-Najaf, where about 2,500 US soldiers are camped in the desert.
Sadr's fighters have dug in with heavy weapons on a hill overlooking Bahr, about 100 meters (yards) south of the shrine.
Their military command post is also in this area right behind the shrine.
The fighting comes one day after Najaf's new police chief Ghaleb al-Jazairi accused militiamen of "terrorising" residents and asked them to leave.
The newly appointed governor Adnan al-Zorfi told AFP late Thursday that a "US entry into the centre of Najaf may be imminent," saying that a lot of those around Sadr were "simple men who did not fathom the military might of the United States."
"Nobody can set conditions on the Americans," he said, urging Sadr to disband his militia "immediately" and promising that the matter of legal proceedings against him in connection with the murder of a rival cleric last year "could be resolved in Baghdad."
Sadr snubbed on Wednesday all mediation efforts and calls to disband his Mehdi Army militia, vowing to lead his men to martyrdom.
I could use some good news today...
Something like Sadr is dead would be good.
Holy Shiite...that is good news!
U.S. Tanks Fight Iraq Guerrillas Among Ancient Tombs
By Suleiman al-Khalidi
NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. tanks moved onto sacred ground in the Iraqi Shi'ite holy city of Najaf on Friday, pushing deep into its ancient cemetery in a fierce battle with guerrillas loyal to insurgent cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
At least three tanks blasted suspected guerrilla positions among the tombs with cannon and heavy machinegun fire. Mehdi Army fighters, who have used the graveyard to stage hit-and-run attacks on U.S. forces, appeared to be hitting back with rocket-propelled grenades and mortars.
Two U.S. helicopters hovered overhead. It was not clear if they had fired.
The vast cemetery, one of the biggest in the world, houses numerous Shi'ite Muslim shrines.
Clashes broke out after dawn on the Muslim day of prayer after a relatively quiet night. Initially gunfire and explosions came from the area of a main police station, some two miles from the main Imam Ali mosque, which lies at the heart of the Shi'ite branch of Islam followed by 60 percent of Iraqis.
An hour or so later, tanks could be seen pursuing guerrillas into the cemetery, which covers several square miles. One tank later withdrew but the two others went on firing.
The many thousands of tombs and mausoleums have been built over centuries as Shi'ites have been brought from around the world to be buried in Najaf's sacred grounds.
U.S. commanders have said they will try not to encroach on holy sites, including the Imam Ali shrine where Sadr has taken sanctuary. But they said this week their patience was wearing thin after more than a month of fighting across southern Iraq (news - web sites).
Sporadic gunfire could also be heard across the city, which lies 100 miles south of Baghdad.
KERBALA FIGHTING
In the other main Iraqi holy city of Kerbala, 30 miles north of Najaf, at least four Iraqis were killed and 13 wounded in overnight fighting, Saleh Hasnawi, director of the main hospital, told Reuters. Fighting died down after dawn.
U.S. helicopters scattered leaflets in Kerbala urging Sadr to end his insurgency and turn himself over to authorities, who want him in connection with the murder of a fellow cleric.
Troops, who were positioned as close as half a mile from some of Kerbala's most sacred buildings, made loudspeaker announcements calling on people to stay out of the city center.
Normally bustling on the Muslim day of prayer, the streets of Kerbala were largely deserted.
Under pressure from the Shi'ite religious and political establishment, Sadr, a young, firebrand preacher, has offered to negotiate. Aides sketched a compromise deal on Tuesday with leading Shi'ite organizations. But clashes have continued.
Last Friday, Sadr defied a U.S. clampdown around Najaf to preach at his usual mosque at Kufa, just outside the city. It was not clear whether he would do the same this week. He normally preaches around noon (4 a.m. EDT).
(Additional reporting by Sami Jumaili in Kerbala)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040514/ts_nm/iraq_sadr_dc&cid=564&ncid=2100
"Sadr defied a U.S. clampdown around Najaf to preach at his usual mosque at Kufa"
What?!! Sitting target!!! Next time they should turn the whole building to ash. Its about as holy as a pigs butt.
Eurotwit, can I add to that?
Thanks.
>"Nobody that carries a terroristic bone in their body can set conditions on the Americans,"Now that we have leadership with a true conviction to fight terrorism within their own spawning grounds.
Take no prisoners, kill em all and I say that with deep conviction.
Knew that was gonna happen...
The vast cemetery, one of the biggest in the world, houses numerous Shi'ite Muslim shrines.
~
The many thousands of tombs and mausoleums have been built over centuries as Shi'ites have been brought from around the world to be buried in Najaf's sacred grounds.
The map shows how really big the cemetery is.
"Sadr snubbed on Wednesday all mediation efforts and calls to disband his Mehdi Army militia, vowing to lead his men to martyrdom."
Let's roll.
Thanks for the link.
Fascinating.
Let's really show them the power of the American military - give them an aluminum sunset composed of bombers dropping nothing but dumb 500 pounders. No MOABs, no JADAMs, just Mk82s until it sounds like a massive earthquake that just keeps on rolling.
And then ask them who wants some more of that.
I'll see your 'jihad' and raise you with this CRUSADE.
Wait till these guys get a crash course into what fighting America means. The only reaction from the survivors will be "holy Shiite!"
New tag line
Well, I'd normally say that we shouldn't do anything he says but, with this request, I'd make an exception!
I think they mean the Shiite hole city of Najaf.
I like that kind of news!
My prediction of Sadr and his thug's not being a problem this time next week (last week) appears to be very possible now.
Lets roll. This al Zorfi guy is impressing me with all the statements Ive read of his.
Digging in against the U.S. forces is fatal. Their only chance is hiding behind women, children and in mosques.
BTW, is there an inch of ground over there that the media doesn't consider "holy" when we're attacking? I think a drainage ditch would become sacred to the media if some of the "insurgents" decided to fight there.
"What is good in life?" To destroy the jihadists, drive the liberals before you, and to hear the lamentations of their media!
Yay! lets hope there is a lot of bits and pieces of mosques and islamic terroroists flying around the place.
This one is for you RUMMY! You ROCK!
Are there any cities over there that are not sacred or holy? Why doesn't our media call Washington DC and NYC holy and sacred. They're sacred to me! (Well DC and Wall Street, anyway.)
Holes in the gold dome according to Paul Harvey.
While the partisan media continue to call places like An Najaf and Karbala "holy" cities, I wish posters here would refain from associating the word "holy" from them.
There is nothing holy about a religion that sanctions the murder of innocent people and promising them 72 virgins in Paradise in return.
There are more descriptive words that could be used instead. Is Islam actually a religion, or is it a political cult of brainwashed masses manipulated by puppeteers behind the screen pulling the strings?
Sadr needs shooting.
A dead Muqtadr would be wonderfully instructive to his cohorts.
Sadr needs help. Let's help him.
I would like to see Al-Sadr photo on a slab with a toe tag.
This will most likely end with the assassination of Muqtada al-Sadr by someone close to him.
Hmm...not to be picky, but the list of Moslem firebrands who actually do lead their men to martyrdom is a very, very short one...
I'd like to see Al-Sadr's head on a platter! We can tag his ear if you'd like.
"There are more descriptive words that could be used instead."
I couldn't agree more!!! Words like murderers, sub-human, satanic, vermin, ungodly, evil, vile.... All the things islam stands for. There is NOTHING holy about any of that trash over there including the cities.... Do them all a favor: Kill em all so they can have their virgins and let their piss-ant god, allah sort em out as to "who's been naughty and who's been nice".... I've seen numbers as high as a billion followers for the statanic cult....almost unbelieveable that people could be sooooooo DUMB.
In enterprise of martial kind,
When there was any fighting,
He led his regiment from behind --
He found it less exciting.
But when away his regiment ran,
His place was at the fore, O --
That celebrated,
Cultivated,
Underrated
Nobleman,
The Duke of Plaza-Toro!
He gets it!!! Now if only we got it.
I've wondered here recently why mediots who always shill for the islamists and their "holy" cities will never refer to Jerusalem, Rome, Constantinople, Wittenberg or Canterbury as holy cities!
As for all the Mohammedan "holy" sites, why not demonstrate what a false, impotent god Allah really is...?
Leni
Holy my A**.
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