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Heavy Fighting in Najaf
US warplanes spearheaded a massive two-pronged assault to crush a Shiite Muslim uprising in Iraq's city of Najaf. Jets screeched overhead as massive explosions and tank and machine-gun fire boomed through the city and smoke engulfed its historic centre, home to the Imam Ali shrine, revered by Shiites all over the world. Thousands of US forces, backed by Iraqi police and national guard, mounted a pincer movement to trap Moqtada Sadr's fighters in the heart of the city, before going on to raid the militia leader's empty home. Iraqi and US troops sealed approaches to the mausoleum, as hundreds of terrified residents, urged on by attacking forces and the city's mosques, fled through the dusty streets. "Leave the city. Help coalition forces and do not fire at them," one announcement instructed in Arabic. "We are here to liberate the city..."This is the first notice of this I have seen. It is dateline Sept 6, and is an AFP report. Any confirmation? Posted by: Anonymoose 2004-09-06 |
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