U.S. Military Pounds Area Near Sadr's Home In Iraqi City Of Najaf

NAJAF, Iraq, Aug 12 (AFP) - The US military pounded militia positions Thursday close to the home of radical cleric Moqtada Sadr in the central Iraqi city of Najaf as a fire raged nearby, an AFP correspondent said.
US armoured vehicles were seen entering the Al-Ishtiraki neighbourhood in the eastern part of Najaf as US helicopters hovered overhead amid the sound of heavy explosions.
Thick heavy smoke rose from the area.
It was not immediately clear whether Sadr was at home. The cleric appeared Monday in Najaf vowing to fight to the last drop of his blood and declaring the United States as his enemy.
US troops closed in Thursday on the heart of Najaf where Sadr's Mehdi Army is holding out around the Imam Ali mausoleum.