40 militants killed near Najaf
2004-05-06 17:36
Najaf - The United States intensified pressure on radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr on Thursday, seizing the governor's office from his fighters and appointing a new governor for this region where his militia held sway. An estimated 40 insurgents were killed in fighting outside of the city, a US officer said.
In Baghdad, a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb on Thursday outside the Green Zone that houses the US headquarters in Baghdad, killing five Iraqi civilians and a US soldier.
The soldiers took control of the government office building in Najaf without a fight, but heavy gunfire was heard after they moved in and smoke rose over the city. Motorists fled the area through deserted streets, honking their horns. Al-Sadr's fighters had controlled the building since they launched their rebellion April 4.
Fighting also broke out Thursday afternoon east of the city, and an estimated 40 militiamen were killed, Captain Roger Maynulet, commander of a tank company with the Army's 2nd Armoured Cavalry Regiment, said.
In Baghdad, chief US administrator Paul Bremer announced the appointment of the new governor for Najaf province, Adnan al-Zurufi, as part of the campaign to regain control from al-Sadr's militia. Bremer said al-Zurufi would take office immediately, replacing a governor who went to Iran and never returned.
Bombs kill 3
Twenty-five people, including two American soldiers, were injured in the blast in the Iraqi capital. The bomb, hidden inside an orange-and-white Baghdad taxi, exploded outside of a meter-high concrete blast wall which protects a US checkpoint. The suicide bomber also died in the Baghdad attack, the military said.
Hours later, a roadside bomb exploded on Saadoun Street, a busy commercial avenue on the east side of the Tigris River near the Palestine and Sheraton hotels. Two Iraqis were injured.
Also on Thursday, the US command said that two US soldiers were killed and two were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad. A statement said the explosion occurred just before midnight on Wednesday but gave no further details.
Moderate Shiites tried to persuade al-Sadr to back away from his confrontation with the United States - a reflection of their growing concern.
Also on Thursday, gunmen assassinated the head of the local agriculture department in the northern city of Kirkuk in a drive-by shooting that also killed his driver and wounded his wife, police said.
Najib Mohammed, a Kurd, was riding in his car when the gunmen opened fire from another vehicle, General Sherko Shakir said. Rebels frequently target officials working for the US-backed Iraqi government, accusing them of collaborating with Americans. - Sapa-AP
- SAPA