Intifada
12th August 2004, 12:26
The deputy governor of Najaf has resigned in protest against the US offensive on the city even as a series of explosions rocked Najaf as fighting between US marines and Al-Mahdi fighters entered a second week.
"I resign from my post denouncing all the US terrorist operations that they are doing against this holy city," Jawdat Kadam Najim al-Kuraishi, deputy governor of Najaf, said on Thursday.
The resignation came as the crackle of machine-gun fire echoed from the southern parts of the city. Smoke could be seen from the area early on Thursday, witnesses said.
There were also reports that the occupation troops and Iraqi forces had blocked off all roads leading to the Imam Ali shrine in the heart of Najaf.
The US occupation military had earlier threatened an offensive against Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr's Al-Mahdi army.
In turn, al-Sadr's fighters have threatened to blow up oil pipelines in southern Iraq if the US and Iraqi government forces storm the city.
more from Aljazeera (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A646F7AC-8DA0-44AA-B590-22EB944522D9.htm)
"I resign from my post denouncing all the US terrorist operations that they are doing against this holy city," Jawdat Kadam Najim al-Kuraishi, deputy governor of Najaf, said on Thursday.
The resignation came as the crackle of machine-gun fire echoed from the southern parts of the city. Smoke could be seen from the area early on Thursday, witnesses said.
There were also reports that the occupation troops and Iraqi forces had blocked off all roads leading to the Imam Ali shrine in the heart of Najaf.
The US occupation military had earlier threatened an offensive against Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr's Al-Mahdi army.
In turn, al-Sadr's fighters have threatened to blow up oil pipelines in southern Iraq if the US and Iraqi government forces storm the city.
more from Aljazeera (http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/A646F7AC-8DA0-44AA-B590-22EB944522D9.htm)