Allawi's governor imposes curfew in al-Sader city

The Iraqi authorities imposed curfew on the people of al-Sader city in Baghdad as from 4 p.m. ( 12: 00 at noon GMT) until 8: a.m.

The spokesman for the Iraqi ministry of the interior said that the curfew will be valid during the next phase until unlimited time. He explained that the decision was taken because of the security situation in the city which witnessed recently violent confrontation during the few past days.

In another development, al-Mahdi army announced in a video recording that it seizes the former director of al-Rasafah police in Baghdad Lt. Gen. Raad Muhammad Khuder. Veiled men read a statement in which they demanded the Iraqi minister of the interior to release the detainees of al-Mahdi army in exchange for releasing Khuder.

Clashes were renewed in Najaf between al-Mahdi army on the one hand, and the American forces and the Iraqi police, on the other. Witnesses said that two members of al-Mahdi army were killed and other two injured in an attack launched by American soldiers against their positions in the city's cemetery.

Since yesterday at dawn., artillery bombardment from the American tanks and mortars shelling were heard.

American helicopters took part in the fighting by opening fire at positions for al-Sader's supporters.

The American army gave new account in which it said it killed more 260 members of al-Mahdi army and lost four of its soldiers in al-Najaf confrontations during the last five days.