American troops clashed with Shiite militants in Najaf on Wednesday — six days after a truce was supposed to have taken effect.
| That's what usually happens with hudnas... |
At least five Iraqis were killed and more than 40 were wounded. Another Iraqi was killed and three others were injured as militiamen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr exchanged fire with American soldiers in Baghdad's Sadr City. No U.S. casualties were reported in either city. In Kufa, several Iraqis said they were wounded when mortar rounds struck their neighborhood. They suspected the Shiite militiamen fired the rounds at the Americans but missed.
| That's what I suspect, too... |
There have been daily clashes in Kufa since Shiite leaders announced an agreement May 27 by al-Sadr to end a standoff with the Americans here and in nearby Najaf. Both sides agreed to leave the two cities, which contain some of the most sacred Shiite shrines in Iraq, and U.S. commanders promised to end "offensive operations" there. But U.S forces have insisted on their right to patrol Kufa — a move the Shiite militia claims is a provocation. |