2 Iraqi cities in crisis [View All]

[leftchick]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/chitribts/20040415/ts_chicagotrib/2iraqicitiesincrisis&cid=2027&ncid=1480


<snip>
The U.S. military wrestled Wednesday with the spiraling insurgency in Iraq (news - web sites) by pounding the western city of Fallujah with heavy artillery and encircling the holy city of Najaf with armor and troops in an effort to vanquish a firebrand Shiite cleric and his militia.

In Fallujah, the soldiers are fighting Sunni Muslims and rebel elements still loyal to the regime of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein (news - web sites). In Najaf, troops are threatening to attack the militia of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, who launched an anti-American uprising two weeks ago.

<snip>
Iraqi leaders from Fallujah and Najaf were attempting to ease the crisis. Fallujah tribal leaders and officials met for a fourth day to negotiate with coalition officials.

But throughout the day, the city came under fire from U.S. warplanes and helicopters firing heavy machine guns, rockets and cannons. Iraqi Governing Council member Ghazi Mashal Ajil al-Yawer, a Sunni involved in the negotiations, described the situation inside Fallujah as calamitous.

"There's an escalation despite spending a lot of time negotiating," he said.