NAJAF, Aug 7: Residents have started leaving in their hundreds from Najaf after days of US aerial bombardments combined with intense fighting between Iraqi forces and militiamen. "Run, run quickly, they (the Americans) are coming," Kadum shouts to his friends.
Dressed in a traditional white tunic, the middle-aged man does not conceal his fear as he rushes away from the ragged streets near the shrine of Hazrat Ali.
"They're fighting everywhere. Run," he shouts to anyone who would listen, picking up his pace as mortar shells crash across the city and the rattle of gunfire reverberates through the semi-deserted streets.
"Do you want to die? Come quickly and let's leave," shouts Ahmed, a young father scolding his children for failing to keep up.
Dozens of people of all ages run pell-mell through the cacophony of cars, buses and taxis skidding through the city.
An ambulance, its windows pierced with bullet holes, tries to force its way through the bottleneck, siren wailing.
"Everything is done for, I'm leaving here to try and stay alive. The Americans want to come and kill everyone and smash our houses for good measure," said a visibly exhausted old man.
At the few open shops in the main street leading to the Hazrat Ali mausoleum, women hastily bought bare essentials: fruit, vegetables, meat and blocks of ice in an effort to keep the produce fresh in the blinding summer heat.
Groups of men gathered outside homes and shops to discuss the situation, seemingly oblivious to the crowd.
A photographer saw a whole family crammed into one car, children packed into the boot for lack of space in the back seat.
Many families fled their central homes for shelter on the outskirts of the city, said one hotel manager, who saw his property destroyed by US fire on Thursday.
One marketplace was completely destroyed, bombed and set ablaze leaving stall holders without a livelihood.
"Who's going to pay for all this? God? (Prime Minister Iyad) Allawi? (Militia leader) Moqtada Sadr?" shouted an angry stall holder.
Some had tried to salvage what they could by cramming their wares into cars.
Not far away, outside a large white house - one of MOqtada Sadr's presumed homes - his Mehdi Army militia stand guard, armed to the teeth without the least sign of fear or worry.
The neighbouring main roads have been barricaded with blocks of cement, tree trunks and tyres.
Rare passers-by stick close to the walls and inch their way precariously to dodge bullets as half-starved dogs wander around alleyways. -AFP