Thousands of Iraqi Kurds demonstrated today to demand the death sentence for Saddam Hussein and one of his key lieutenants – Ali Hassan al-Majid, also known as Chemical Ali – be put to death for the gas attack that killed 5,000 people in 1988.

The militant Shiite cleric whose uprising in April left hundreds dead pledged to resist “oppression and occupation” and called the new interim Iraqi government “illegitimate”.

At least nine people were hurt as explosions rocked a compound surrounding a mosque in Kufa, one of Iraq’s holy cities, today.

Iraq’s new prime minister has made his first address to the nation, saying a rapid US withdrawal from the country would be a “major disaster” because Iraqis were not ready to handle their own security.

US soldiers clashed with Shiite gunmen in the holy city of Najaf today despite an agreement to end the bloody stand off with followers of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

THE US agreed to suspend offensive operations in Najaf yesterday after Iraqi leaders struck a deal with radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr to end a stand-off threatening some of Iraq’s holiest Shiite shrines.

Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr has agreed to withdraw his militia from Najaf and hand the city back to Iraqi police, the government said, raising hopes for an end to weeks of fighting with coalition forces.

US troops captured a key lieutenant of Iraqi rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr during overnight clashes in Najaf that killed 24 people and wounded nearly 50.

At least 32 fighters loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr were killed when US followed Iraqi forces into a mosque in the holy city of Kufa, where rebels were said to be storing weapons.

American troops fought militiamen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr today in the southern city of Karbala, but the city of Najaf was relatively quiet following intense clashes yesterday.

Backed by tanks and helicopters, US soldiers fought fighters loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr early today in the southern holy city of Karbala, witnesses said. Much of the fighting took place near a prominent mosque.

Insurgents blasted an oil pipeline, setting off a huge blaze and slashing Iraq’s daily oil exports by around 25%.

US AND British troops clashed yesterday with forces of radical Shi'ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr for a second day, and four Iraqis were killed in an explosion in a Baghdad market.

Three British soldiers were injured in a blast in Basra as coalition troops clashed with forces of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr for a second day today. Four Iraqis were killed in an explosion in Baghdad.

Gunmen loyal to a radical Shiite cleric attacked British troops across Basra and tried to storm the governor’s building today, a day after the cleric’s representative in the city offered money for the capture or killing of coalition soldiers.

GUNMEN killed two journalists south of Baghdad yesterday, and militiamen loyal to a radical Shi’ite cleric dug in for a confrontation with US troops, clashing with soldiers in two holy cities.

Gunmen killed two journalists south of Baghdad today, and militiamen loyal to a radical Shiite cleric dug in for a confrontation with US troops, clashing with soldiers in two holy cities.

A British foot patrol came under attack in the southern city of Amarah today, sparking a seven-and-a-half-hour gun battle with insurgents in the city centre that left five Iraqis dead and six British soldiers injured, witnesses and a British forces spokesman said.

Radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr told worshippers at Friday prayers that he will not accept calls to tone down his anti-American rhetoric.

MULTIPLE explosions shook Fallujah after dark yesterday as fighting erupted in the Iraqi city for the second straight night.

Gunmen assassinated an Iranian diplomat in Baghdad just as Iran, with tacit US approval, attempted to mediate with radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr defying American forces in the southern Iraqi city of Najaf.

IRAQI leaders launched hurried negotiations yesterday aimed at averting a US assault on the city of Najaf, the location of the holiest Shiite site, the Imam Ali Shrine.

AMERICAN forces regained control of the southern Iraqi city of Kut seized this week by a rebellious Shi’ite militia as radical Shi’ite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, warned America they were now fighting an “entire Iraqi nation.”

THE families of three Japanese nationals kidnapped in Iraq and threatened with execution, tearfully begged the government to pull its troops out of the country as Tokyo reiterated there would be no withdrawal.

US forces today regained control of a southern Iraqi city seized this week by a rebellious Shiite militia and resumed their offensive in Fallujah after a brief halt for talks.

A radical Iraqi cleric was branded an “outlaw” today and the US announced a warrant for his arrest, heightening a confrontation after his supporters clashed with coalition troops in battles that killed more than 60 people.

Gunmen opened fire on the Spanish garrison near the holy city of Najaf today during a huge demonstration by followers of an anti-US Shi’ite Muslim cleric.

At least four Iraqis, including two soldiers, died and 30 people were injured during a protest outside a Spanish military garrison in the southern holy city of Najaf today, witnesses and a hospital worker said.