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12 Marines Believed Dead in Fight in Iraqi City, Military Says

BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 6 - A dozen American marines were believed to have been killed today in fighting at a former government compound in the city of Ramadi, near Falluja, a military official in Washington said.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said details were still sparse and that it was unclear whether the marines had been attacked or had launched an assault on forces believed to be linked to the former regime of Saddam Hussein. News agency reports cited reports of dozens of Iraqi casualties, as well.

Earlier, the American military said that five marines and three American soldiers had died in clashes in Baghdad and Falluja, 35 miles to the west, during the last two days, as fighting between the American-led coalition and Iraqi militias continued to roil Iraq.

Christine Hauser and Kirk Semple, The New York Times

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Sources: Al-Sadr supporters take over Najaf

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Supporters of maverick Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr controlled government, religious and security buildings in the holy city of Najaf early Tuesday evening, according to a coalition source in southern Iraq.

The source said al-Sadr's followers controlled the governor's office, police stations and the Imam Ali mosque, one of Shia Muslim's holiest shrines.

Iraqi police were negotiating to regain their stations, the source said.

The source also said al-Sadr was busing followers into Najaf from Sadr City in Baghdad and that many members of his outlawed militia, Mehdi's Army, were from surrounding provinces.

CNN

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The only unequivocally good policy option before the American people is to dump the president who got us into this mess, who had no trouble sending our young people to Iraq but who cannot steel himself to face the Sept. 11 commission alone.

Harold Meyerson, The Washington Post

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