] Fierce fighting erupted in the city of Najaf Thursday
] after a rebel Shi'ite cleric defied an Iraqi government
] threat to attack his stronghold in a holy shrine and
] rejected demands that he end his uprising.
]
] Thick black smoke poured into the sky from near the Imam
] Ali Mosque, soon after Moqtada al-Sadr spurned the
] ultimatum from interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. U.S.
] aircraft and tanks pounded the area around the shrine.

[ Didn't I just recommend a story that said he was ready to give up and be cool? Looks like there's gonna be some serious shit going down. -k]

] Fierce fighting erupted in the city of Najaf Thursday
] after a rebel Shi'ite cleric defied an Iraqi government
] threat to attack his stronghold in a holy shrine and
] rejected demands that he end his uprising.
]
] Thick black smoke poured into the sky from near the Imam
] Ali Mosque, soon after Moqtada al-Sadr spurned the
] ultimatum from interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. U.S.
] aircraft and tanks pounded the area around the shrine.

That sucks...