Sadr wounded in fierce clashes

The rebel cleric whose uprising against American occupation has plunged southern Iraq into bloody chaos has been injured in the US offensive against him.

Shi'ite leader Moqtada al-Sadr, who has vowed to fight "until the last drop of my blood has been spilled", was wounded in the bitter fighting for the holy city of Najaf.

The cleric, who has led the latest uprising against coalition and Iraqi troops for more than a week, is said to be sheltering in the sacred compound housing the Imam Ali shrine, surrounded by members of his Mahdi militia.

Spokesman Ahmad al-Shinabi said he was wounded at 4.30am (0030 GMT) in Najaf 's vast ancient cemetery, which adjoins the shrine, both strongholds for the militia. "He was in the cemetery at the time. He was wounded in the chest, arm and leg."

Armed clashes spread from Najaf to previously unaffected areas of Baghdad and the cities of Kut, Amara and Diwaniya, as armed supporters of Al-Sadr were emboldened by the uprising.

Thousands of Iraqis in Baghdad, Basra and Nasiriyah also went on to the streets yesterday to protest at the US-led offensive.

More than 170 Iraqis have been killed in the fighting and 600 injured since Wednesday. A British soldier has been killed in Basra, the second in three days, and another is fighting for his life.

The heaviest fighting took place in the southern city of Kut, where Al-Sadr's supporters attacked the city hall, several police stations and the barracks of the Iraqi National Guard in a four-hour battle. At least 72 people were killed in the fighting, many when US bombers pounded a rebel stronghold.

Hospital officials said women and children were among the dead and 150 people were injured during the two hours of air assaults.

In Basra, Marc Ferns, 20, from Glenrothes, Fife, was killed and Sergeant Kevin Stacey, 26, was left fighting for his life after being caught in a roadside bomb explosion. The soldiers, serving with the 1st Battalion the Black Watch, were on a routine exercise protecting fellow British troops when they were hit about mid-morning local time yesterday, just before 5,000 of Al-Sadr supporters marched through the city's streets.

Sgt Stacey, a father of one from Almondbank, Perth, was transferred to a military hospital in Kuwait.

Just three days ago 20-year-old Private Lee O'Callaghan, from south-east London, died after being shot in the chest by armed militants thought to be loyal to Al-Sadr.

Annabelle Ewing, Scottish National Party MP for Perth - the Black Watch's main recruiting ground - said: "I think there is an increasing feeling in Scotland that it is time to bring our troops home.

"We should be replacing US-led coalition troops with soldiers from Islamic countries under the authority of the United Nations."

The US offensive against Al-Sadr's Najaf stronghold began yesterday when 2,000 Marines and 1,800 Iraqi security men backed by tanks and aircraft seized the heart of the holy city.

Warplanes pounded militia positions in a cemetery next to the Imam Ali mosque. Just before nightfall US forces stormed Al-Sadr's home.

Iraq's interim prime minister Iyad Allawi urged the militiamen to lay down their arms.

Mr Allawi needs to crush the rebellion that has disrupted vital oil exports and threatened to undermine his government.

A temporary calm returned to Najaf overnight, with militia men resting on their weapons, while US marines took up positions around the old city.