NAJAF (CNN) — Intense fighting raged Thursday afternoon around the Imam Ali Mosque, and two of the mosque’s minarets have been damaged, according to a CNN producer inside the compound.
But it is unclear if the fighting signaled the start of an Iraq-U.S. offensive against the fighters aligned with Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr — who is refusing to negotiate on the latest Iraqi government ultimatum because, an aide said, he and his forces want to deal with the Iraqi National Conference delegation and not the interim government.
Iraqi officials have threatened to “liberate” the mosque in a military offensive if al-Sadr and his forces don’t leave and disarm.
The interim government said Thursday that al-Sadr must publicly and personally say he is disarming and will stand down, or Iraqi and U.S. forces will take military action against him.
This comes a day after al-Sadr issued a conciliatory statement read at the Iraqi National Conference indicating that he is willing to have his forces disarm and withdraw from the compound.
CNN Producer Kianne Sadeq, who had been inside the mosque compound with other journalists at the invitation of al-Sadr’s militia, reported persistent sounds of mortars and gunfire and many explosions. There was a great deal of sniper fire as well, she said