Enjoy Discounted Exercise Equipment From Leading Sales Outlets
SEARCH IT

CHANNELS
Encyclopedia Astronautica
SERVICES
 
Spacer Homebase
US marines, militia battle ferociously to control Najaf cemetery
NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) Aug 09, 2004
US marines in Iraq battled ferociously all Monday to wrest control of the vast cemetery in the holy city of Najaf from Shiite Muslim militiamen.

But by dusk it was unclear what, if anything, had been achieved and fighters from the Mehdi Army, founded by radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr last year, celebrated what they viewed as a small victory.

"There were two American offensives. At 7:00 am (0400 GMT), three tanks advanced. We destroyed one and the others retreated. Three hours later, three came back and we destroyed two," said one militiaman who gave his name as Mustafa, his eyes bloodshot with fatigue.

"We managed to ground a tank, but we can't destroy it because it's in among the tombs," said another fighter as a group of his comrades danced.

"Give us victory oh Lord, in the name of the prophet (Mohammed), (Imam) Ali, Moqtada, give us victory," they chanted.

Neither the US military nor war correspondents covering the fighting could confirm whether any US tanks had been damaged, possibly because the giant cemetery -- one of the largest in the world -- was completely cut off.

There were constant and deafening explosions in Najaf throughout the day. The city was pounded without reprieve. Mortars on top of tank fire. Tank fire on top of mortars as helicopter gunships swooped through the sky.

Brief lulls were shattered by machine-gun and rifle fire.

Over the bombardment, muezzin wailed encouragement to militiamen at the city's sacred Imam Ali mausoleum, once a beacon for Shiite pilgrims all over the world and now a barracks for the Mehdi Army.

"You are fighting for faith and if you die a martyr you will go to paradise where Imam Ali will welcome you. Please God and his prophet!" chanted one, before reciting verses from the Koran.

In the esplanade outside the shrine, a militiaman could only offer cold comfort to his family.

"I miss you all. I want to die a martyr. Look after yourself and the children and the house," he told his mother, before placating a frantic wife, convinced that he was already a dead man.

"I love you and the children so much. Pray that I die a martyr. If I die, sell the car, take 1,000 dollars and give the rest to my mother and brothers," he said.

In the street linking the shrine area to the cemetery, fighters lolled on the pavement, in shops or burrowed down in half-finished building sites, their rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and Kalashnikovs ready at hand.

At mealtime, a young man started handing out raisons from a plastic bag.

Behind him came others with metal plates carrying rice and meat. "Meat is good for fighting," said one of them, laughing to nods of agreement.

Another man handed out fresh water. Later, there was tea.

Suddenly, a cry of "They're attacking!" was barked out from inside the cemetery, followed by the crackle of semi-automatic gunfire.

The men clatter to their feet to the rallying cry: "Moqtada make the ground tremble under the Americans' feet".

Since the fighting erupted Thursday, when the Mehdi Army attacked the main police station and governor Adnan al-Zorfi requested US support, the US military estimates that more than 360 insurgents have been killed.

But a spokesman for Sadr has insisted that only 15 militiamen have been killed and 35 wounded, the majority from cluster bombs.

All rights reserved. Copyright 2003 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.

Quick Links
SpaceWar
Search SpaceWar
Subscribe To SpaceWar Express

SpaceWar Search Engine
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SPACEWAR NEWSLETTER
SubscribeUnsubscribe
  

WAR.WIRE
  • UK finds underwater suspected Russian nuke spy sensors: report
  • Iran rejects Trump call for direct nuclear talks
  • Yemen Huthi media say one dead in air strikes
  • Iran says wants dialogue 'on equal footing' with US
  • India navy delivers aid to quake-hit Myanmar
  • Cambodia hails opening of naval base renovated by China
  • North Korea's Kim fires new sniper rifle while visiting troops
  • US defense chief to visit Panama next week: Pentagon
  • Burkina junta critic arrested in growing crackdown: civil group
  • Russian missile strike kills 14 in Ukraine leader's home city
    SPACEDAILY NEWS
     Feb 11, 2005
  • NASA Observations Help Determine Titan Wind Speeds
  • Cassini Spacecraft Witnesses Saturn's Blues
  • US Orientation Engine Fails On ISS
  • NASA Names Two Future Space Shuttle Crews
  • Simulations Show How Growing Black Holes Regulate Galaxy Formation
  • In The Stars: Odd Stars, Odder Planets
  • Natural Climate Change May Be Larger Than Commonly Thought
  • Earth Gets A Warm Feeling All Over
  • Satamatics Flying At Over 50,000 Terminals
  • Digital Angel To Expand OuterLink Subsidiary's Flight Tracking System
  • LockMart Delivers First Modernized GPS Satellite To USAF For May Launch
  • World's Fastest Oscillating Nanomachine Holds Promise For Quantum Computing
  • Carnegie Mellon's Red Team Seeks $2 Million Robot Racing Prize
  • Kionix Ships The World's Smallest High-Performance Tri-Axis Accelerometer
  • Northrop Grumman/Raytheon Team To Compete For GOES-R System
  • Blue Planet: The Fading Songs Of Whales
  • New Cameras Turn Night Into Day
  • North Korea Suspends Talks, Says It Will Build More Nuclear Bombs
  • Analysis: How Super Is The Superpower?
  • Walker's World: Why Rice Should Thank Zarqawi
  • NATO Agrees Expansion Of Afghan Force
  • North Korea Probably Bluffing Over Nuclear Threat: Australia
  • US Options Seen Limited Against Nuclear-Armed North Korea
  • Six Iraqi Policemen Killed, US Helicopters Fire Missiles To End Siege
  • Germany And Malaysia Urge Peace In Tsunami-Ravaged Aceh
  • Task Of Collecting Indonesia's Tsunami Dead Will Take Six Months: Red Cross
  • EU Brings Forward Preferential Trade Scheme For Developing Countries
  • Cambodia's Former Forestry Monitor Blasts World Bank Over Logging
  • Thales Posts Lower Sales In 2004, Missing Own Target
  • Rolls-Royce Profits Rise; Orders At Record Levels

  • The contents herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2002 - SpaceDaily. AFP Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by SpaceDaily on any web page published or hosted by SpaceDaily. Privacy Statement