April 3, 2003	Thursday	Muharram 30, 1424

BAGHDAD, April 2: Iraq on Wednesday accused the US-led coalition of bombing mosques and trying to destroy the two sites most sacred to Shias in Najaf and Karbala.

Information Minister Mohammed Said al Sahhaf also denied US reports of advances on two fronts, around Karbala and across the Tigris river to the east, while playing down the impact of heavy bombardment south of Baghdad.

“They have bombarded some mosques in Najaf and Karbala,” he told a press conference in the Iraqi capital.

Mr Sahhaf accused the coalition of trying to destroy the tombs of Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Imam Hussein by sending warplanes screeching low over the holy sites, and warned of a Shia outcry.

“They are trying to crack the buildings by flying low over them,” he said. “This will be scorned by all Shias all over the world.”

The US military for its part accused Iraqi forces of firing on coalition forces from a Najaf mosque, saying that units from the US Army 5th Corps were refusing to return fire.—AFP