Half Najaf's Council Members Resign In Protest Of U.S. Assault

NAJAF, Iraq, Aug 12 (AFP) - Sixteen of Najaf's 30-member provincial council resigned Thursday in protest at the US-led assault on the central Iraqi city.
"We have decided to resign due to what has befallen Najaf and all of Iraq from the hasty US invasion and bombardment of Najaf," the council said in a statement received by AFP.
The US military backed by Iraqi forces closed in on the heart of Najaf Thursday to isolate militiamen loyal to Moqtada Sadr and pounded their positions in the city and raided the radical cleric's home.