Iraqi gunmen kill two journalists as tensions rise in Najaf

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.

The journalists, a Pole and an Algerian, were shot in their car by gunmen near Mahmoudiyah, 20 miles south of Baghdad, said police lieutenant Alaa Hussein. A second Pole was wounded in the attack.

Lt Hussein said the men worked for a Polish TV station but had no additional information.