US occupation troops surrounded the home of Shiite leader Moqtada Sadr in the central Iraqi holy city of Najaf, AFP witnessed.
US armoured vehicles, backed by Iraqi security forces, cordoned off the Al-Zahra neighbourhood, where Sadr's home is located in the eastern part of the city.
Smoke was seen rising from the area Monday amid the sound of heavy gunfire, mortar fire and rocket-propelled grenade explosions. A woman was killed in the clashes near the house.
Witnesses told AP Sadr was in the house at the time. US forces were later reported to have withdrawn.
Sadr's followers waged fierce uprising against the US-led occupation after his paper was closed down and one of his deputies arrested in March. A ceasefire was reached last month and earlier this month the newspaper was allowed to resume publishing. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
