Iraqi Police, Shi'ite Religious Authorities Take Control of Najaf Shrine
VOA News
20 Aug 2004, 13:51 UTC
Iraq's interior ministry says Iraqi police and Shi'ite religious authorities have entered the Imam Ali shrine in Najaf, and are in control of the site.
A ministry spokesman says about 500 lightly armed people inside the mosque have surrendered.
The statement may signal the end of the two-week standoff between Shi'ite militiamen loyal to radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr holed up in the mosque and U.S. and Iraqi troops.
Earlier, Iraq's health ministry said 77 Iraqis were killed and 70 wounded in the past 24 hours of fighting in Najaf.
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