IRAQI police discovered at least 10 bodies in a building housing a maverick religious court run by rebel Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s followers yesterday and said they were victims of the court’s summary brand of justice.

Iraqi police discovered about 10 bodies in a maverick religious court run by rebel Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr’s followers in Najaf today and said they were victims of the court’s summary brand of justice.

Iraq’s top Shiite cleric is on his way to Najaf today, armed with a new peace initiative and a call for Iraqis to march on the holy city, after he unexpectedly returned home from Britain.

Explosions and gunfire echoed across the holy city of Najaf today as the US military and Iraqi forces launched a full-scale assault to crush a weeklong uprising by militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.