May 11, 2004

U.S. Bombs Al-Sadr's Baghdad Office

A U.S. aircraft destroyed a Baghdad office of a radical Shiite cleric and his followers said two people were killed and six injured. In Fallujah, U.S. Marines began joint patrols with Iraqi forces Monday under an agreement that ended the siege of that city.

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Hammond confirmed that U.S. aircraft had bombed the office of Muqtada al-Sadr, who has led an insurgency against the U.S.-led occupation and is wanted by coalition forces.

Hammond, deputy commander of the 1st Cavalry Division, said the building was used to stockpile weapons and was destroyed by fire from M-1 tanks and aircraft.
[...]
Hammond said 35 militiamen were killed in gunbattles throughout the area that lasted from midday Saturday until 4 a.m Sunday.

The fighting began after Sadr's forces set up checkpoints throughout the area. Al-Sadr has taken refuge in his Najaf office, surrounded by gunmen.

Some "holy man," huh?
Al-Sadr will be brought to justice, but in the meantime his fellow Shiite clerics, led by Coalition-friendly Al-Sistani, and local tribal leaders are trying to work out a deal for his arrest whereby he'd surrender to tribal authorities in Najaf and not American forces.
Works for me!
Just so we take this troublemaker out of circulation and make him answer for blowing up his rival!