Fighting Rages In Najaf, Friday Prayers Cancelled

"Because of these unusual circumstances, there will be no Friday prayers in the Imam Hussein shrine," said Sheikh Maitham Rahi, who has links to the Iraq ‘s most revered Shiite Muslim leader, Grand Ayatolloh Ali al-Sistani, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP).

The center of Karbala around the two revered shrines of Imams Hussein and Abbas were empty, with Sadr armed fighters controlling the buildings and hotels nearby, close to troops of the U.S.-led occupation forces.

Sporadic bursts of automatic gunfire were heard but there were no major clashes.

The town, 110 kilometers (70 miles) south of Baghdad , was the scene of violent clashes Wednesday that left 22 of Sadr’s fighters dead, according to the U.S.-led occupation authority.

Najaf "City Of Fear "

In nearby Najaf, 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad, holding prayers also seemed unlikely, as the weeks-long standoff was blown to pieces and fighting erupted between Sadr militia and occupation troops.

There were also doubts that prayers could be held because of blocked roads in nearby Kufa, where Sadr usually appears to fray U.S. President George W. Bush and encourages his followers to fight against the U.S.-led occupation.

The U.S. occupation forces imposed a curfew on Najaf, turning it into a city of fear. The director of the City’s hospital said the U.S. forces ordered him not to allow any ambulances or medical crews to leave the hospital premises under any circumstances, according to al-Jazeera correspondent.

"The situation is dangerously bad. Streets are empty. Intense firing is heard everywhere, especially from southern and eastern entrances of the city where the occupation forces are advancing. Mehdi Army fighters are putting up a strong resistance at the cemetery," the correspondent added.

Sadr Office in the city, meanwhile, told al-Jazeera that Mehdi fighters brought down a U.S. military helicopter during the ongoing fierce fighting.