Rebels urged to quit as troops surround holy shrine

US and Iraqi forces battled militants in Najaf today and Iraqi National Guardsmen advanced to within 200 yards of the holy city’s Imam Ali Shrine compound, where insurgents loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr have been holed up for weeks.

Tue, 24 Aug, 2004 - 15:18

However, a raid into the shrine would not be launched in the coming hours, Iraqi Defence Minister Hazem Shaalan told Al-Arabiya television.

More in this section

Donald Trump says he is bringing $15bn lawsuit against New York Times

Israel’s defence minister says ‘Gaza is burning’ after heavy strikes overnight

Summit leads to little action after Israeli strike on Hamas in Doha

Courts Iraq Place: Najaf Place: Imam Ali shrine Place: Baghdad Place: Najaf shrine Place: Iraq Person: Muqtada al-Sadr Person: Iraqi Defence Minister Person: Hazem Shaalan Person: Shaalan Person: foreign minister Person: Hoshyar Zebari Person: Shalaan Organisation: US Organisation: al-Arabiya television Organisation: Iraqi Organisation: Iraq

<p>Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the opening event of the bipartisan delegation of American legislators to Israel in Jerusalem. Picture: Debbie Hill/AP</p>

UN inquiry finds top Israeli officials incited genocide in Gaza

READ NOW

Rebels urged to quit as troops surround holy shrine

Unlimited access. Half the price.

UN inquiry finds top Israeli officials incited genocide in Gaza

Latest

Most Read