 A sniper with radical Iraqi Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr's Mehdi Army rests in Najaf's old town, August 19, 2004. Sadr reverted to his trademark defiance after two days in which he had appeared to be willing to disarm his militia and leave Iraq's holiest Shi'ite shrine. Fierce fighting raged in Najaf on Thursday and Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi issued a "final call" for Sadr to disarm his fighters and quit the mosque he has made his stronghold. REUTERS/Chris Helgren |
 BAGHDAD, IRAQ - AUGUST 18: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr sprints across a street in between bullets coming from US troops, on August 18, 2004 in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq. The Iraqi Defense Minister has threatened to put an immediate end to the Shiite uprising. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images) |
 NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 19: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr takes shelter in an alley close to the shrine of Imam Ali while US forces fire missiles, on August 19, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. A spokesman for Moqtada al-Sadr rejected an ultimatum issued by the Iraqi government today. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images) |
 BAGHDAD, IRAQ - AUGUST 18: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr aims at US troops, on August 18, 2004 in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq. The Iraqi Defense Minister has threatened to put an immediate end to the Shiite uprising. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images) |
 BAGHDAD, IRAQ - AUGUST 18: An Iraqi Shiite militia man loyal to the radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr takes cover from incoming bullets from US troops, on August 18, 2004 in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, Iraq. The Iraqi Defense Minister has threatened to put an immediate end to the Shiite uprising. (Photo by Ghaith Abdul-Ahad/Getty Images) |
 US soldiers ride on the back of a military truck while heading towards their positions in the holy Shiite city of Najaf 17 August 2004. Delegates from Iraq's national conference arrived at the Imam Ali shrine amid heavy fighting to urge militia leader Moqtada Sadr to vacate the city's mausoleum. The delegation entered the huge shrine compound at around 7:00 pm (1500 GMT) at the heart of the city's historic centre, where continuous, heavy gunfire raged throughout the day, peppered with mortar blasts. .AFP PHOTO/Saeed KHAN (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images) |
 US soldiers patrol near the shrine of Imam Ali in the holy Shiite city of Najaf 17 August 2004. Delegates from Iraq's national conference arrived at the Imam Ali shrine amid heavy fighting to urge militia leader Moqtada Sadr to vacate the city's mausoleum. The delegation entered the huge shrine compound at around 7:00 pm (1500 GMT) at the heart of the city's historic centre, where continuous, heavy gunfire raged throughout the day, peppered with mortar blasts. EDS NOTE: Adding dropped word. .AFP PHOTO/Saeed KHAN (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images) |
 US soldiers wave from their truck while patrolling near the shrine of Imam Ali in the holy Shiite city of Najaf 17 August 2004. Delegates from Iraq's national conference arrived at the Imam Ali shrine amid heavy fighting to urge militia leader Moqtada Sadr to vacate the city's mausoleum. The delegation entered the huge shrine compound at around 7:00 pm (1500 GMT) at the heart of the city's historic centre, where continuous, heavy gunfire raged throughout the day, peppered with mortar blasts. .AFP PHOTO/Saeed KHAN (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images) |
 NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 13: A U.S. Army Sergeant Aaron Calmes from Dallas, Texas of the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary takes a picture of children August 13, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Shiite militia fighters that have been battling U.S. troops seemed to observe a truce, as the city remained quiet. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) |
 NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 14: U.S. Army Specialist Daniel Pina from LA, California (L) and Specialist Kris Clinkscales from San Antonio, Texas of the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary point out targets as they setup a sniper position August 14, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Shiite militia fighters that have been battling U.S. troops seemed to observe a truce, as the city remained quiet. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Daniel Pina;Kris Clinkscales |
 NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 15: A U.S. Army soldier from the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary fires his weapon as he tries to kill an enemy sniper during an offensive operation August 15, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Fighting erupted in the holy city of Najaf after peace talks broke down between the Iraqi government and rebel Shiite Muslim militia. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) |
 NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 16: A U.S. Army tank from the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary breaches a wall to let infantry look inside after they came under constant sniper fire during an offensive operation August 16, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Fighting continued in the holy city of Najaf after peace talks broke down between the Iraqi government and rebel Shiite Muslim militia. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) |
 NAJAF, IRAQ - AUGUST 17: U.S. Army Lieutenant Cole from the 1st Calvary Division 2nd Battalion 7th Calvary fires his weapon at a sniper position during fighting with Shiite militia August 17, 2004 in Najaf, Iraq. Iraqi political and religious leaders, trying to end a radical Shi'ite uprising, flew into Najaf to try and quell the violence. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) |
 US soldiers patrol the holy city of Najaf, Iraq Friday Aug. 13, 2004. Thousands of U.S. troops sealed off Najaf's vast cemetery, its old city and a revered Shiite shrine and unleashed a tank, infantry and helicopter assault against militants loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan) |
 An American soldier sits and waits next to an armoured personnel carrier as fellow soldiers stand guard down the road in the deserted streets of the besieged city of Najaf, Iraq Tuesday Aug. 17, 2004. The deadly showdown between U.S. troops and Iraqi militants in Najaf dominated Iraq's national conference, with tribal and religious leaders deciding to send 60 delegates to the holy city to persuade a radical Shiite cleric to call off his fighters. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) |
 U.S. soldiers sleep next to an armored personnel carrier in the deserted streets of the besieged city of Najaf, Iraq, Tuesday Aug. 17, 2004. The showdown between U.S. troops and Iraqi militants in Najaf dominated Iraq's national conference, with tribal and religious leaders deciding to send 60 delegates to the holy city to persuade a radical Shiite cleric to call off his fighters. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) |
 Spent shells lie next to an American armored vehicle patrolling the besieged city of Najaf Thursday Aug. 19, 2004. Prime Minister Ayad Allawi issued a "final call" Thursday to Shiite insurgents to disarm and withdraw from the Imam Ali Shrine in Najaf after his government threatened a massive onslaught by Iraqi forces. As the peace deal for Najaf unraveled, militants bombarded a police station with mortar rounds, killing seven police and injuring 31 others. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) |
 American helicopters fly over the holy city of Najaf, in southern Iraq Sunday Aug. 15, 2004. Negotiations to end the fighting in Najaf broke down Sunday, threatening to spark a resurgence of the fierce clashes between Shiite militants and a combined U.S.-Iraqi force that have plagued this holy city for more than a week. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan) |
 A U.S. special operations sniper locks on a target near the cemetery in Najaf, Iraq, Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2004. Sporadic but heavy fighting continued Wednesday. (AP Photo/Jim MacMillan) |
 American soldiers patrol the streets of the besieged city of Najaf, in southern Iraq Tuesday Aug. 17, 2004. A U.S. warplane bombed near Najaf's vast cemetery as fighting with Shiite militants intensified Tuesday. An Iraqi delegation brought a peace proposal aimed at ending the standoff in the holy city, which has marred a Baghdad conference meant to be a landmark step toward democracy. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) |
 American soldiers patrol the streets of the besieged city of Najaf, in southern Iraq Tuesday Aug. 17, 2004. The deadly showdown between U.S. troops and Iraqi militants in Najaf dominated Iraq's national conference, with tribal and religious leaders deciding to send 60 delegates to the holy city to persuade a radical Shiite cleric to call off his fighters. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed) |
 Wounded Reuters photographer Ali Abu Shish is carried by U.S. Army medics after sustaining minor wounds to his legs from fragments of a gunman's bullet which had hit pavement, in the southern Iraq city of Najaf, August 17, 2004. Iraqi political and religious leaders trying to end a radical Shi'ite uprising flew into Najaf on Tuesday, where U.S. troops and militia fought pitched battles near the country's holiest Islamic sites. REUTERS/Chris Helgren |
 An Iraqi girl peers around a street corner, past U.S. Army troops, towards an area of fighting in Najaf's old town, August 17, 2004. Iraqi political and religious leaders trying to end a radical Shi'ite uprising flew into Najaf on Tuesday, where U.S. troops and militia fought pitched battles near the country's holiest Islamic sites. REUTERS/Ali Abu Shish |
 U.S. Army troops of the 1st Cavalry Division prepare to probe defenses on the edge of Najaf's old town, August 17, 2004. Iraqi political and religious leaders trying to end a radical Shi'ite uprising flew into Najaf on Tuesday, where U.S. troops and militia fought pitched battles near the country's holiest Islamic sites. REUTERS/Ali Abu Shish |
 U.S. Marines crowd the rear of a truck during an evening patrol in Najaf, August 17, 2004. Iraqi political and religious leaders trying to end a radical Shi'ite uprising flew into Najaf on Tuesday, where U.S. troops and militia fought pitched battles near the country's holiest Islamic sites. REUTERS/Ali Jasim |
 A U.S. Marine stands guard atop an armored vehicle over sleeping comrades, in the southern Iraq city of Najaf, August 17, 2004. An Iraqi peace delegation urged a radical Shi'ite cleric on Tuesday to call off his uprising in the city of Najaf, where U.S. troops pounded militia positions near the country's holiest Islamic sites. In Baghdad, insurgents fired a shell into a busy street, killing at least seven people including two children. The attack wounded 42 people. REUTERS/Ali Jasim |
 U.S. Army troops prepare for patrol near Najaf's cemetery, August 19, 2004. Radical Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al Sadr reverted to his trademark defiance after two days in which he had appeared to be willing to disarm his militia and leave Iraq's holiest Shi'ite shrine. Fierce fighting raged in Najaf on Thursday and Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi issued a "final call" for rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr to disarm his fighters and quit the mosque he has made his stronghold. REUTERS/Ali Jasim |
