Troops battle Iraqi insurgents for control of governor's office

Scheherezade Faramarzi ~ The Associated Press

NAJAF, Iraq -- U.S. soldiers seized the governor's office Thursday in the holy city of Najaf, wresting control from Shiite militiamen loyal to a radical cleric in battles that left an estimated 40 insurgents dead.

In Baghdad, a suicide car bomber killed five Iraqi civilians and an American soldier at the edge of the heavily guarded Green Zone that houses the U.S. headquarters. The blast wounded 25 people, including two U.S. soldiers.

Amid concerns that U.S. troops were about to move directly against anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, his militiamen dug in around Najaf, taking positions behind earthen mounds leading into the city center and launching a barrage of mortar shells and small arms fire at the U.S. base here late Thursday.

American soldiers responded with a heavy barrage of 120mm mortar fire. U.S. jets streaked across the blackened night sky, and two large plumes of smoke could be seen rising over the east bank of the Euphrates.

The Najaf fighting came as chief U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer announced the appointment of Adnan al-Zurufi as governor of Najaf province, a step that is part of the campaign to regain control of the area from al-Sadr's militiamen. His al-Mahdi Army seized government buildings and police stations in the province on April 4.

The Baghdad bomb exploded outside a concrete blast wall that protects a U.S. checkpoint.

The U.S. soldier slain by the bomb was the 21st U.S. serviceman killed in Iraq in May. The suicide bomber also died.

An Internet statement signed by a group linked to al-Qaida claimed responsibility. The statement, on a Web site known for militant Islamic messages, was signed by the military wing of the "Monotheism and Jihad Group," which is believed led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The Jordanian is wanted by the United States for allegedly organizing militants to fight U.S. troops in Iraq on behalf of al-Qaida.

The statement's authenticity could not be confirmed.

Also Thursday, the U.S. military said two U.S. soldiers were killed and two were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad just before midnight Wednesday.

Meanwhile, a blindfolded man described as an Iraqi-American being held hostage in Iraq was shown pleading for help on an Arab TV station.

The man, speaking English, gave his name as Aban Elias and said he was from Denver.

"I am a civil engineer working here in Baghdad," he said, adding that he worked for the Pentagon.

Elias, shown on Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV, appealed to Islamic associations to work for his release.

With the tape came a statement from a previously unknown group calling itself "The Islamic Rage Brigade." The group said Elias was kidnapped on May 3. It made no demands.

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AP correspondent Hamza Hendawi contributed to this report from Baghdad.