|
Iraqi Army to Lead Attack in Najaf
Iraq's Prime Minister Ayad Allawi ordered troops from the country's newly formed army to lead an attack against Shiite Muslim militia in Najaf, the Washington Post said, citing Iraqi officials and U.S. Army commanders. The deployment is the first since sovereignty was restored to Iraq on June 28, the newspaper said. A U.S.-led attack would have been politically hazardous as the militia, led by cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, are holed up at the shrine of Imam Ali, one of Shiite Islam's most sacred sites. ``I think the reason Allawi called us off is this would've turned quickly into the occupier versus the defender of the holy shrine, no matter what the truth is,'' said Major David Holahan of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, the Post reported. ``The city would've been damaged, and Sadr would have gained in popularity.'' Yesterday peace talks between Sadr and the Iraqi interim government broke down, ending a two-day truce. Sadr and his ``Mahdi Army'' are calling for the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq.Posted by: Frank G 2004-08-15 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=40656 |