Iraqi troops have clashed with U.S.-led forces in the desert around the town of Najaf, 160 kms south of Baghdad, Iraqi television reported on Sunday.
The television report said the leader of President Saddam Hussein's Baath party in Najaf had been killed in the clashes.
Najaf is the closest point to Baghdad where ground fighting has been reported since the war began on Thursday.
Elsewhere, anti-aircraft fire streamed into the night sky over the Iraqi city of Mosul shortly after midnight on Sunday, Reuters reported.
The raid lasted for no more than five minutes around midnight, the report added. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
