| US soldiers backed by tanks and armoured fighting vehicles today seized control of the governor's office from Shiite militiamen in the holy city of Najaf. Heavy shooting could be heard and plumes of smoke rose over the city. Soldiers moved into the area in four directions to take control of the building. There appeared to be few if any militiamen in the building, which was taken without a fight. Afterward, however, gunfire could be heard, and US helicopters were seen flying low over parts of the city. "I think we are going to gain momentum from now on," said Lieutenant Michael Watson, a platoon leader with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment. The governor's office is some 4 kilometres from the Shrine of Imam Ali, the holiest shrine in Shiite Islam. Meanwhile, across from the nearby town of Kufa, where al-Sadr's militia is also powerful, US soldiers fought a gunbattle with insurgents, killing 28 militiamen. |