Mortar Rounds Hit Najaf Police Station

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040819/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_najaf_blast&cid=540&ncid=1480

NAJAF, Iraq - A series of mortar rounds hit police headquarters in the embattled city of Najaf on Thursday. Witnesses reported that several police were killed and injured.


The police station has been the frequent target of attacks from militants loyal to Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.


The attacks came despite al-Sadr's acceptance of a peace proposal that demands his militia lay down its arms. The government said earlier Thursday that al-Sadr had to implement the plan immediately or it would begin a major offensive against his followers here.


The police station was in the city center but not near the revered Imam Ali Shrine, where al-Sadr's fighters have been holed up in their standoff with U.S. and Iraqi forces.

[leftchick]

1. BBC: at least 6 Dead....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3578816.stm

<snip>
And in Najaf, where Mr Sadr's armed supporters are locked in a stand-off with US and Iraqi troops, gunfire reverberated on Thursday.

A police station was also hit by mortar fire killing up to six people.

The station was not close to the Imam Ali shrine Mr Sadr and his supporters are occupying.

[Barrett808]

2. Human shields... n/t