Imam Al-Mahdi Army fighters (file photo)
10 June 2004 -- Clashes between Iraqi police and fighters loyal to radical Shi's cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in the southern Iraqi holy city of Al-Najaf today killed at least two people and wounded more than 20.
The fighting is the first major clash between al-Sadr's Imam Al-Mahdi Army and Iraqi forces which took over security in the city following an agreement last week.
The clashes began overnight when Iraqi police tried to arrest a group of al-Sadr supporters.
U.S. forces were not involved in the fighting.
Under last week's agreement, al-Sadr militiamen pulled back from the rest of Al-Najaf but reportedly remained holed up at several locations in the city center.
The agreement was reached by local Shi'a leaders to end weeks of fighting between al-Sadr supporters and U.S. forces.
(AFP/AP)
The clashes began overnight when Iraqi police tried to arrest a group of al-Sadr supporters.
U.S. forces were not involved in the fighting.
Under last week's agreement, al-Sadr militiamen pulled back from the rest of Al-Najaf but reportedly remained holed up at several locations in the city center.
The agreement was reached by local Shi'a leaders to end weeks of fighting between al-Sadr supporters and U.S. forces.
(AFP/AP)