Contradictory reports over the number of killing in the confrontations; Iraqi police confirmed controlling the situation in Najaf

The office of the director general of the Iraqi police in Najaf stressed that things were under control and life returned to normal after two days of violent confrontations.

In a statement, the police said it arrested 1200 members of al-Mahdi army which affiliates to the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader in the two past days.

According to contradictory reports, the violent fighting which took place between the American forces and the Iraqi police with the militia members of al-Mahdi army inflected hundreds among killed or injured.

The American army, however, said that 300 members of al-Mahdi army were killed in the fighting beside three of its soldiers and wounding of other 12, while al-Sader group said 36 of its members were killed. Najaf governor Adnan al-Zarfi said that losses of al-Mahdi army were 400 killed persons and 1000 were arrested.

While the special delegate of the UN secretary general Jamal Bin Amre said that the continued confrontation in Iraq threatens the substance of the expected Iraqi national congress which aims at settling problems throughout dialogue, the UN chief Annan said that the UN is still a target for the attacks in Iraq and therefore it has to limit the number and activities of its members there in the foreseeable future.

In a new report he submitted to the UN Security Council, Annan urged the international community to contribute in forces in order to protect UN employees. He said that the organization lacks the means to ensure protection for itself.