Allawi visits war-torn city

Iraq’s interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi made an unannounced visit to the war-torn city of Najaf today, calling on militants to lay down their weapons after days of fierce clashes with US forces.

“We think that those armed should leave the holy sites and the (Imam Ali Shrine compound) as well as leave their weapons and abide by the law,” Allawi said before a meeting with Najaf’s governor.