Al Falluja (AsiaNews) – The streets and shops of Falluja are closed as the skies continue to be patrolled by Apache helicopters since early before dawn today.

American troops have forbidden the circulation of vehicles and pedestrians on streets, even journalists, from 7.00 a.m. to 6.00 p.m. They have also closed off the highway linking Baghdad to Amman, the capital of Jordan.

The situation is a tense since helicopters bombed the headquarters of Imam Muqtada al-Sadr supporters in the Shiite dominated al-Shaala neighborhood of Baghdad. So far two militants and six civilians have died in the air raids related to downing support for Muqtada al-Sadr, the most anti-western and radical Shiite leader in Iraq.     

The US military operation was aimed subduing a Shiite revolt that broke out two days ago and to arrest those responsible for the hanging of 4 bodies of American citizens in Falluja last week. Shiites had burst into anger after the closure of an anti-western news agency in Najaf, which had shown support for al-Sadr's positions, and following the arrest of al-Sadr's right-hand man, Mustafa al-Yaakubi, two days earlier.    

Meanwhile in Kufa, south of Al-Najaf, Imam Muqtada al-Sadr continues to be surrounded while seeking refuge in a Mosque protected by his closest followers. Sheikh Kais al-Khozali, a member of al-Sadr's entourage, accused "occupation forces of causing the disorder" and imposed as a condition for an end to the Intifada "the release of 10,000 Iraqi prisoners and Mustafa al-Yaakubi", a supporter of al-Sadr.

Today Paul Bremer, the American governor of Iraq, accused Muqtada al-Sadr and his followers of having gone "above legal authorities" and being a "threat to Iraq's security". The Imam has "ordered that attacks be carried out against Americans and Iraqi authorities, Bremer said. "He has personally guided these operations."

Bremer confirmed that the young Imam "intended to create a parallel authority to the Iraqi government and that of the Coalition."

In Karbala, the Shiite holy city south of Baghdad, Imam al-Sadr's supporters attacked several Iraqi police stations early this morning, stealing a cache of weapons. In the same city gunfire broke out between Coalition Polish troops and al-Sadr militants. The toll from the fighting was 6 wounded, amounting to the injuring of 3 Iraqis and 3 "Iranian tourists".  

Shiite protests have intensified in the far southern Iraqi town of Bassorah, as angry citizens shouted "To your deaths! To your deaths!" in unison in front of the Provincial Office building currently occupied by British authorities. Al-Bahadeli Abdel Salam,  in representing Imam al-Sadr, said that the demonstrations were "peaceful protests to let the world know their requests". Muqtada al-Sadr has asked that his followers oppose the "terrorism of the enemy".        

Yesterday the Shiite dominated province of Missan in southern Iraq was stage to armed conflict between British troops and pro-al-Sadr militants, causing 8 Iraqis to die and injuring 10 others. Meanwhile 8 American soldiers lost their lives in yesterday's clash with al-Sadr militants in the Sadr Baghdad neighborhood. Officials at Sadr Hospital say that 15 people had died and 70 wounded in incidents related to the fighting.  (PB)