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US Troops Attack Holy Najaf Cemetery

HeadlineMay 14, 2004

In Iraq, fierce fighting has broken out in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf as US soldiers backed with tanks have moved onto an ancient cemetery that is considered sacred ground by Shiite Muslims. The cemetery, which is called the Valley of Peace and is the largest in the Muslim world, is located near the Imam Ali Shrine and is close to where Shiite cleric Muctada al Sadr has taken sanctuary. . Images of the US invasion into the holy Najaf cemetery are being broadcast today around the Arab world. One Najaf resident said, “The cemetery lost its holiness in the early hours of today when the U.S. forces started to attack. Many of the graves have been destroyed. But we can say that people are dying and nice buildings are being destroyed also today. Who cares right now about graves?” The U.S. said Sadr’s forces were using the cemetery to stage attacks. It also appears the US has cut off the main road between Najaf and Kufa where Sadr delivered his Friday sermon. He lashed out at President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair calling them “the heads of tyranny.”

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