Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called on his loyalists on Wednesday to keep fighting occupation troops in Iraq even if he is killed.
"Keep fighting even if you see me a prisoner or a martyr. God willing you will be victorious," Reuters cited al-Sadr as saying in a statement from Najaf, where he is holed up with his fighters.
"I thank my dear Mehdi Army supporters in Basra, Amara and Nasiriyah, who have offered their soul and blood in the fight against the occupation forces," he added.
Sader' comments came as U.S. troops prepared a major offensive on his followeres in the holy city of Najaf, training Iraqi security forces Wednesday to join the assault. The US military said Iraq's prime minister must approve the operation before it starts.
On his part, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, Iraq's interim vice president, called on the U.S. troops to withdraw from Najaf. "Only Iraqi forces should stay in Najaf, these forces should be responsible for security and should save Najaf from this phenomenon of killing," al-Jaafari told Arab TV network Al-Jazeera from London on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, U.S. jet fighters bombed the city of Fallujah on Wednesday, killing four people, wounding four others and damaging several houses, hospital officials said. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
