U.S. Tanks Move Toward Najaf Shrine, Clashes Kill 40

[Barrett808]

U.S. Tanks Move Toward Najaf Shrine, Clashes Kill 40
Aug. 22, 2004 — By Michael Georgy
NAJAF, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. tanks rumbled to within 800 meters (yards) of a holy shrine in the Iraqi city of Najaf on Sunday as fierce clashes with Shi'ite rebels in a nearby town killed at least 40 Iraqis, officials said.

Talks to end a near three-week Shi'ite Muslim uprising led by radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr appeared to have stalled after negotiators failed to agree on how to surrender control of the Imam Ali shrine, where Mehdi militias remain holed up.

In Najaf's old city, Mehdi militias fired mortars at U.S. positions and the sound of gunfire crackled from near the shrine. U.S. helicopter gunships clattered above the labyrinth of narrow streets not far from the gold-dome mosque.

Near Najaf, clashes between U.S. troops and militias on Saturday killed 40 people in the town of Kufa, a Shi'ite stronghold from where Sadr has led Friday prayers. Interior Ministry officials said the dead were militiamen and civilians.

Earlier on Sunday, a U.S. military AC-130 gunship unleashed rapid cannon and howitzer fire on rebels in Najaf.

(more)

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/US/reuters20040822_73.html

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