Subversive Pessimist
20th August 2004, 16:15
On CNN they said that the police had taken control of the mosque, and there were 500 militas surrended on the ground that suffered from malnutrition and were carrying "ancient weapons".
Now AP comes with this article, claiming that it is not true.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) - Shiite Muslim militiamen were still holed up in Najaf's revered shrine, with no Iraqi police in sight despite government reports to the contrary, said an AFP correspodent at the mosque.
Many militiamen and supporters of radical cleric Moqtada Sadr partisans were in the shrine parvis.
Sporadic exchanges of fire between US troops and Sadr's Mehdi Army echoed through the southern part of the city, said another AFP correspondent.
Mortar shells were also fired.
In Baghdad, a spokesman for the interim government said Iraqi police had arrested some 400 militiamen at the Imam Ali shrine.
"Iraqi police entered the shrine in Najaf city and all armed militia were evicted," said the spokesman, who asked not to be named.
"About 400 people were arrested, but the Iraqi police could not get hold of Moqtada Sadr."
Earlier, Sadr spokesman Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani said the Mehdi Army was to leave the shrine after handing over the keys under an agreement with revered cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
"We went to Sistani's office this morning to agree on giving up the keys to the mausoleum. His office called Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in London, who agreed to take the keys," Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani told AFP.
"A delegation from Sistani's office must come to the mausoleum and we will give them the keys," he added.
"The visitors, human shields and militiamen will then leave the shrine and its doors will be closed," he said, without giving a timeframe.
An official from Sistani's office confirmed the meeting had taken place, but refused to comment further.
Now AP comes with this article, claiming that it is not true.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) - Shiite Muslim militiamen were still holed up in Najaf's revered shrine, with no Iraqi police in sight despite government reports to the contrary, said an AFP correspodent at the mosque.
Many militiamen and supporters of radical cleric Moqtada Sadr partisans were in the shrine parvis.
Sporadic exchanges of fire between US troops and Sadr's Mehdi Army echoed through the southern part of the city, said another AFP correspondent.
Mortar shells were also fired.
In Baghdad, a spokesman for the interim government said Iraqi police had arrested some 400 militiamen at the Imam Ali shrine.
"Iraqi police entered the shrine in Najaf city and all armed militia were evicted," said the spokesman, who asked not to be named.
"About 400 people were arrested, but the Iraqi police could not get hold of Moqtada Sadr."
Earlier, Sadr spokesman Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani said the Mehdi Army was to leave the shrine after handing over the keys under an agreement with revered cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani.
"We went to Sistani's office this morning to agree on giving up the keys to the mausoleum. His office called Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani in London, who agreed to take the keys," Sheikh Ahmed al-Shaibani told AFP.
"A delegation from Sistani's office must come to the mausoleum and we will give them the keys," he added.
"The visitors, human shields and militiamen will then leave the shrine and its doors will be closed," he said, without giving a timeframe.
An official from Sistani's office confirmed the meeting had taken place, but refused to comment further.