Posted August. 22, 2004 22:15,
U.S. troops in Iraq attacked Najaf again on August 22.
They advanced to within range of fire from the Imam Ali mosque, a Shiite holy place, with tanks that day.
Along the way, there were sporadic battles with hard-line Shiite leader Moktada al-Sadrs Mehdi militia army. The number of casualties on both sides was not immediately confirmed.
The Najaf situation seemed to be in a state of momentary lull as al-Sadr announced that he would give the Imam Ali mosque up to the highest Shiite leader, Ali al-Sistani, on August 20 when a final decisive battle between the U.S. army and al-Sadr was expected, but their negotiations were hard going and in the end, the attack of the U.S. army was resumed.
The Mehdi army secured the Imam Ali mosque again and began to resist, while al-Sadr disappeared.
Al-Sadr told the DPA on August 20, We decided to give the mosque to Sistani group so that it cannot be insulted by the U.S. army.
However, his aide, Al-Shaibani, explained the breakdown in negotiations the next day by saying Both groups agreed to organize a committee to examine a propertys list of the Imam Ali mosque, but Sistani refused it later due to matters of safety.
The Mehdi militiamen are showing a will to resist, saying, Even though the right to control the Imam Ali mosque is handed to the highest Shiite leader, Sistani, we are pledged to protect this holy place.