U.S. Forces, Supporters Of Radical Cleric Clash In Kufa

2 June 2004 -- Militants loyal to radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr clashed with U.S. forces near a mosque in Iraq's holy city of Kufa today.
Officials in Kufa said at least five Iraqis were killed and 40 others injured in the fighting which started when al-Sadr supporters opened fire on a U.S. convoy.

Fighting was reported also between al-Sadr's forces and U.S. troops in the Baghdad suburb known as Al-Sadr City. One Iraqi was reported killed and three others injured.

There have been several attempts to broker a truce between the two groups, all of which have fallen apart within hours.

In Baghdad today, a car bomb exploded killing at least four people and wounding more than 30 others.

A mortar attack on a police station in the city of Al-Fallujah killed one Iraqi civilian and injured three people, including a U.S. Marine.

(AP/AFP)