- Heavy clashes have erupted between American troops and
Shiite militiamen in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf following the suspension
of the proposed handover of the militia's shrine stronghold to the Shiite
religious leadership.
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- Fighters loyal to Shiite radical leader Moqtada Sadr
launched multiple attacks on US tanks, parked around 300 yards away from
the Imam Ali shrine.
-
- Overnight, American warplanes bombed the city, causing
three large explosions near the mausoleum, as the United States army confirmed
military operations were continuing at the request of the Iraqi government.
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- American troops backing Iraqi forces in Najaf had scaled
back their deployment yesterday, but Sunday's clashes were more intense
than the sporadic firing the previous day.
-
- Some two days after spokesmen for both Sadr and Grand
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani announced the deal to hand over the shrine, which
the Mehdi Army have occupied since their April uprising, talks tailed off.
-
- "We do not know how long it will take. It all depends
on the situation and Sistani," Sadr's junior spokesman Sheikh Ahmed
al-Shaibani told AFP in Najaf.
-
- "The matter is suspended as of now, because we are
awaiting the response from Sistani about forming the committee" tasked
with carrying out a full inventory of the shrine's priceless works of art
and alms.
-
- Sistani has been reluctant to take back the shrine without
ensuring that nothing is missing and the Mehdi Army is unwilling to surrender
control amid any suggestion of impropriety.
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- © Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2004.
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- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/
2004/08/22/unajaf.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/08/22/ixportaltop.html
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