Shiite Gunmen Seize Najaf Police Station

From Fox News

Chaos swept the southern city of Najaf after gunmen loyal to radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr (search) overran the Ghari police station after a 10-hour gunbattle, witnesses said. The station, located 250 yards from the Imam Ali Shrine (search), was looted and police cars were burned.

"We sent a quick reaction unit to assist the policemen defending the station, but they were overwhelmed by al-Sadr fighters," said Najaf Gov. Adnan al-Zurufi. "We will solve this problem as soon as possible. We will ask for the help of the Americans, if necessary."

Hours later, al-Sadr's forces withdrew, and rioters looted the damaged cars.

Later Thursday, Iraqi police traded gunfire with al-Sadr's militia near one of the radical Shiite cleric's houses, said Muhanad Kadhin, a police official. Police went to the nearby al-Hakim hospital after reports that wounded policemen brought there were threatened by al-Sadr fighters.

Here is the interesting bit.

U.S. forces were not involved in the clashes, and it was unclear whether the violence marked the end of the cease-fire in Najaf, mediated by Shiite leaders and al-Sadr's militia, or resulted from police attempts to crack down on petty crime in the city.

Now Sadr cannot say he is attacking "occupiers"; he is attacking fellow Iraqis.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------