Wanted Shiite cleric's militiamen dig in with force in Najaf's heart
The militiamen of wanted cleric Moqtada Sadr have dug in with force in the inner sanctum of the holy city of Najaf, much to the alarm of residents and rival Shiite groups, and say they want to drive US soldiers out of Iraq. Hundreds of edgy young men from Sadr’s Mehdi Army, carrying sniper and assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenade launchers, were seen Saturday positioned in the area around the mausoleum of Imam Ali, the city’s holiest shrine. Many more were seen on building rooftops and in alleys off the four main streets leading to the mausoleum. Several pickup trucks were ferrying fighters to and from what looked like a makeshift command center just behind the mausoleum. Full Story