- Joined
- Feb 29, 2004
- Messages
- 1,720
- Points
- 248
Rebels loyal to Moqtada Sadr in Najaf say they are holding fresh talks with Iraqi religious leaders about the control of the Imam Ali shrine.
But Mr Sadr, whose fighters are holed up at the shrine, is vowing to continue fighting US-led forces, an aide said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi told the BBC troops would not attack the mosque to flush out Mr Sadr's fighters.
US tanks have reportedly encircled the shrine after an intense bombardment of rebel positions overnight.
In other developments in Iraq:
BBC Read More
But Mr Sadr, whose fighters are holed up at the shrine, is vowing to continue fighting US-led forces, an aide said.
Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi told the BBC troops would not attack the mosque to flush out Mr Sadr's fighters.
US tanks have reportedly encircled the shrine after an intense bombardment of rebel positions overnight.
In other developments in Iraq:
- US warplanes twice strike targets in Falluja, west of Baghdad, killing at least two people, according to hospital sources
- Suspected Sadr militants set fire to the headquarters of Iraq's South Oil Company in Basra
- The US embassy in Iraq is hit by mortar fire, slightly injuring two employees
- A new US army report on the Abu Ghraib prisoner abuse scandal will implicate at least two dozen more personnel, say US defence officials, and a report by a US academic says some medics collaborated with abusive guards.
BBC Read More
