Two top aides reportedly detained in Najaf by U.S. forces

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
Media: The Associated Press
Byline: n/a
Date: 21 September 2006

Body:


BAGHDAD, Iraq_Two top aides to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr were
detained early Thursday by U.S. forces in the southern city of Najaf, a
spokesman for al-Sadr said.

Salah al-Obeidi, a spokesman for al-Sadr who delivers Friday prayers on
behalf of the cleric in the nearby city of Kufa, and Muayed al-Khazraji, a
leading aide from Baghdad, were taken in a raid by U.S. and Iraqi forces at
about 1 a.m. local time, said Muhammed Jamil, a spokesman in the city some
160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad.

The incident was not immediately confirmed by U.S. forces.

Jamil said the cleric called on the followers of his Mahdi Army not to
retaliate.

"Muqtada al-Sadr called on Jaish al-Mahdi (the Mahdi Army) to exercise calm
and self control and not to be dragged into the American scheme to drive
them into a new confrontation."

In another incident, a joint American and Iraqi patrol clashed with Mahdi
Army forces in Diwaniyah, 130 kilometers (80 miles) south of Baghdad, in a
raid to arrest a Mahdi Army leader, police said.

Two Iraqi soldiers were wounded and four injured, said police Capt. Abbas
al-Bayati. An Iraqi armored personnel vehicle and a U.S. Humvee were
damaged, but there were no immediate reports of American casualties,
al-Bayati said.

Al-Bayati said he was still trying to confirm whether there were any Mahdi
Army dead or wounded.
 
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