Violence continues in Najaf as truce talks collapse

IRAQ: Violent confrontations in the Shia holy city of Najaf resumed yesterday after truce talks broke down.

The Iraqi Prime Minister, Mr Ayad Allawi, threatened to send in several battalions of the new Iraqi army to quell the insurrection led by the Shia cleric, Sheikh Muqtada al-Sadr, and clear fighters from the Shias' most holy mosque, the Shrine, constructed over the tomb of Ali, cousin of the Prophet Muhammad and founder of the Shia sect.

Some 2,000 US marines and army troops have thrown a cordon round the city and are prepared to support Iraqi troops.

There were sharp skirmishes yesterday between militiamen and US marines in the cemetery adjacent to the sacred mosque. But both sides are aware that a frontal assault could gravely damage the ornate 1,000 year-old shrine and risk a Shia revolt in the south of the country and the capital's vast Shia suburb called Sadr City after the firebrand cleric's father.

Senior officials in the three Shia provinces have even called for their secession because of the military campaign in Najaf. A fresh onslaught by Iraqi and US forces could also lead to a bloodbath.

On Saturday 10,000 Shias from Baghdad and elsewhere arrived in Najaf to form a human shield round the mosque and reinforce the Mahdi Army.

Food and medical aid was delivered by a convoy sent by the rebellious Sunni city of Falluja to demonstrate solidarity with Sheikh al-Sadr's revolt.

The crisis in Najaf is the most serious challenge faced by Mr Allawi's seven week old government which yesterday sought to enhance its legitimacy by convening a national conference of 1,300 Iraqis representing regions, political parties and non-governmental organisations to elect a 100 member interim national assembly to confer a modicum of representation upon the appointed government.

However, Iraqis focused on Najaf rather than the gathering. Its opening session was disrupted by a noisy demonstration by 100 Shias condemning military action in Najaf.

Iraqi analysts contend that Sheikh al-Sadr's standing rises every time there is a clash with the US.

Following fighting in Najaf in April and May, Sheikh al-Sadr received a 68 per cent approval rating in a poll taken by the US occupation administration.

The UN candidate for the premiership, Dr Hussein Shahristani, said the use of force "strengthens" Sadr and generates "more sympathy [for him] than ever before". Another observer remarked that Sheikh al- Sadr is building his popular support from urban poor and disgruntled tribesmen while the interim government is trying to impose a democratic system from above.

In the run-up to next January's elections, Sheikh al-Sadr is seen as a threat to US-affiliated parties which seek to garner the support of voters from the majority Shia community.

In particular, he attracts support from Shias who might otherwise back the Islamist Dawa party and the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq which have ministers in the government. Furthermore, his rejection of the US presence in Iraq undermines the more tolerant approach adopted by the most influential personality on the Iraqi scene, Grand Ayatollah Ali Sistani.

Sheikh al-Sadr also proposes to transform Iraq into an Islamic state ruled by clerics while Washington, Ayatollah Sistani and most US-backed politicians and parties oppose such a policy for Iraq.