2ND LD: U.S. says 300 'enemy' killed in Najaf clashes: Reuters

0 Comments | Asian Political News, August 9, 2004

BAGHDAD, Aug. 6 Kyodo

(EDS: UPDATING)

U.S. marines have killed an estimated 300 fighters loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in fierce clashes around Iraq's holy city of Najaf in the past two days, Reuters news service reported Friday, quoting a senior U.S. officer.

''The number of enemy casualties is 300 KIA (killed in action),'' Lt. Col. Gary Johnston, operations officer for the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit, was quoted as saying at a military base near the city.

Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite television channel quoted Najaf's governor, Adnan al-Zurufi, as saying at least 400 members of al-Sadr's Mehdi militia were killed.

However, a spokesman for the Mehdi militia rejected the reported death tolls. Sheik Raed al-Qathimi told Reuters that 36 militia fighters had died in fighting across Iraq since Thursday.

U.S. officials were quoted as saying there were indications that foreign fighters had joined the Mehdi militia in Najaf. Criminal gangs were also involved, they said.

Asked about U.S. casualties, Johnston said there were two dead and 12 wounded from the two days of fighting, which has destroyed a two-month ceasefire between U.S. forces and the Mehdi militia. The cease-fire ended a widespread Shiite rebellion two months ago.

The fighting began in Najaf on Thursday and has since spread to other Shiite areas across the country.