Accessibility links

Breaking News

Hundreds Demonstrate In Al-Najaf, Urge Al-Sadr To Go


Al-Sadr fighters (file photo) 11 May 2004 -- Hundreds of people marched through the Iraqi city of Al-Najaf today, urging radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr and his militia to leave the city.

As marchers passed by al-Sadr's office, fighters from the cleric's Imam Al-Mahdi Army fired their weapons in the air. But there were no clashes and the march continued without incident.

Al-Sadr and members of his militia are in Al-Najaf in a stand-off with U.S. forces who have surrounded the city, demanding his surrender.

The new U.S.-appointed governor of Al-Najaf, Adnan al-Zurufi, said today legal proceedings against al-Sadr over the murder of a rival would be delayed until after 30 June, when Iraq is due to gain sovereignty, if the cleric disbands his militia.

(AFP/AP)

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG