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/ 20 August 2004

‘No truth’ to Najaf victory claims

Iraq’s United States-backed caretaker government cried victory on Friday in its 19-day standoff with Shi’ite Muslim militiamen in Najaf, but on the ground rebel fighters remained firmly in control of their stronghold in the city’s holiest shrine. "Not a lick of truth to [the victory claims]," said a US defence official on Friday.