US Tanks Move Toward Najaf Shrine as Talks Falter

[jadedcherub]

--snip--
By Michael Georgy
NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. tanks advanced to within 800 yards of the Imam Ali mosque in the Iraqi city of Najaf on Sunday after talks on surrendering control of the shrine at the center of an 18-day siege ran into trouble.

Hours earlier, a U.S. military AC-130 gunship unleashed rapid cannon and howitzer fire on positions held by rebels loyal to firebrand cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who remain in control of the gold-domed shrine in defiance of the Iraqi government.

North of Baghdad, a suicide car bomb blew up near a convoy carrying Iraqi officials near the town of Baquba, killing two people and wounding eight, a police officer said.

The U.S. operation in Najaf came as negotiators tried to end a Shi'ite Muslim rebellion led by Sadr's Mehdi fighters that has helped push world oil prices to record highs.

Mehdi rebels fired mortars at U.S. positions and the sound of gunfire crackled from near the shrine inside the old city, where the situation remained tense, a Reuters witness said.

The attacks on Najaf overnight lit the area with white flashes. Smoke drifted over the old city near rebel positions, and flashes were seen on the outskirts of the city.

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=6036821

--snip--

Well. What do you know, the talks failed. I don't like this at all.

.jc.

[hadrons]

1. I'm sure the Iraqi soccer team will be pleased that Dumbya ....

will be cheering them as much as he's cheering the tanks

[Massacure]

2. Good. Surround the shrine, and starve them out.

Just don't blow the place up.

[WhereIsMyFreedom]

3. You mean the shrine we already took control of?

:crazy:

[Moderator]

4. Kick

Kick