Iraq claims foreigners threatening mosque
National conference troubled by protests, attacks
Sunday, August 15, 2004 Posted: 12:53 PM EDT (1653 GMT)
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Twenty-five heavily armed foreigners holed up inside the Imam Ali Mosque in Najaf have threatened to blow up the building, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said Sunday in a written statement.
The statement said the interim Iraqi government has ordered national guard forces not to target the mosque, and not to approach it.
The mosque, in the center of Najaf, is a holy site to Shiite Muslims. They believe it houses the tomb of the Prophet Muhammed's cousin and son-in-law.