BAGHDAD, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Fighting renewed Saturday between Shiite gunmen led by radical cleric Moqtada Sadr and U.S. forces backed by Iraqi troops after an overnight lull.
Security sources said the battles in Najaf, in central Iraq were, concentrated in al-Midan Square which is only about 1,500-feet (500 meters) from Imam Ali Mausoleum, the holiest Shiite shrine, and the adjacent cemetery of Wadi al-Salam, the largest burial ground in the world.
The unidentified sources said Iraqi troops were deployed in large numbers around Najaf to thwart any attempt by Sadr's al-Mehdi Army to seize the building.
U.S. forces blocked entries to the holy city to halt any supplies or reinforcements for al-Mehdi Army.
The Shiite gunmen set up roadblocks and barricades, setting tires on fire to block the advance of U.S. tanks into the city center.
U.S. Army sources and Najaf Mayor Adnan al-Zarfi said between 300 and 400 fighters from al-Medi Army were killed during two days of fighting, but Sadr's office in the city denied the report, saying not more than 10 gunmen were killed.
