US troops will likely enter parts of Najaf soon in a move to clamp down on the rebel militia of a radical Shiite cleric but will stay away from sensitive holy sites in the center of the city to avoid rousing the anger of Shiites, a US general said today.
Shiite leaders have warned of a possible explosion of anger among the country's Shiite majority if US troops enter Najaf, and until now US commanders have been saying troops would not go in.
With the new move, the military seeks to impose a degree of control in Najaf, while hoping that a foray limited to the modern parts of the ancient holy city would not inflame Shiites. Brig. Gen. Mark Hertling did not say when troops would move in, or how many.
American officials were attempting a similar limited step in the war-torn city of Fallujah, the other main front of fighting in Iraq this month.
US troops will begin patrols alongside Iraqi security forces in Fallujah, a top Iraqi negotiator, Mr Hachim al-Hassani, said Sunday an apparent attempt to restore control over the insurgent stronghold without a full-scale Marine assault, which would spark new bloodshed.
But like a previous agreement aimed at reducing the violence in the city, the new step hinged greatly on the response of Sunni guerrillas, who are called on to turn in their heavy weapons and not carry any weapons in public.
"We hope the US soldiers will not be attacked when they enter the city. If they are attacked, they will respond and this will lead to problems," Mr al-Hassani said.
He said Fallujah residents have promised no attacks will take place. But US officials have questioned whether Fallujah civic leaders who have been negotiating with the Americans have enough influence with the city's guerrillas. Guerrillas have not been abiding by a previous call from the civil leaders to surrender their heavy weapons, US commanders say.
Violence across the country flared yesterday, killing 33 Iraqis in various attacks and four US soldiers whose base was hit by two rockets north of Baghdad.
A rocket hit near a hospital in the northern city of Mosul, killing three people including two women working at the hospital doctors said. Elsewhere the city, a mortar hit a residential area, killing one Iraqi.