An attack on a mosque in Najaf left 12 people injured on Tuesday. Supporters of Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr accused the Americans of firing the mortars at the mosque.
According to reports, a mortar round exploded meters from Shiite Islam's holiest shrine - Imam Ali mausoleum - in the central city of Najaf, injuring 12 people as fresh fighting erupted between US troops and Iraqi fighters.
The inner gate of the shrine, leading into the tomb of Imam Ali Ibn Abu Talib, appeared to have been hit by a projectile. Debris was scattered on the ground.
Al-Jazeera television showed a torn veil covering the gate, and damage on the wall around it.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt told Al-Jazeera that the shell that fell on the shrine was not American.
Another projectile landed outside the shrine, about 10 yards away from the outer wall. Three Shiite fighters were injured in that attack, and three fighters were killed in fighting in the city, al-Sadr's office said.
Imam Ali was the Prophet Muhammad's cousin and son-in-law and he is the most revered saint among Shiite Muslims.
All in all, eight Iraqis were killed and 18 injured in Najaf in fighting overnight and during the day Tuesday, said Seyed Kifah Shemal, an official at Hakim General Hospital. Two people died and 14 were wounded in overnight fighting in Kufa, said Riyadh Kadhem, a nurse at the Forat al-Awsat hospital in Kufa. They said the casualties were mostly civilians.
Meanwhile, a senior Turkman minority leader was assassinated overnight in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk, according to reports Tuesday. Ahmed Nagam Al-Din, a senior political leader of the Turkmen minority in Iraq was killed overnight by an assassin, according to a high-ranking local police source.
Al-Din was gunned down as he left his party's offices. According to a police officer, the incident was a "terror attack; not a criminal act." (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
