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Iraqi soldiers stand guard near the bodies of militants after a battle in Najaf, 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad, Jan. 30, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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Young pilgrims self-flagellate as they take part in the religious festival of Ashura in Kadhimiya district in Baghdad January 29, 2007. Tens of thousands of Shi'ite Muslims are expected to gather in Kerbala this week to celebrate a religious festival called Ashura, the day when Imam al-Hussein, the "leader of the martyrs" and grandson of Prophet Mohammad, was killed in Kerbala in 680 AD. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
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BAGHDAD, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- The leader of an al-Qaida-linked militant group which planned to attack Shiite clerics during Shiite's Ashura commemorations was killed during a day-long battle outside Najaf, an Iraqi government spokesman said on Monday.

"Ali Bin Ali Bin Abi Talib, the leader of the group called the Jund al-Samaa or Soldiers of Heaven, is confirmed to be killed during the operation," Ali al-Dabbagh told the official Iraqia television.

"This group has a political agenda with ties inside and outside Iraq, but was covered by religious ideology," said Dabbagh, without releasing more details.

U.S., Iraqi forces kill 250 militants in Najaf

BAGHDAD, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces backed by U.S. helicopters Sunday killed about 250 militants during a day-long battle outside the Shiite holy city of Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad, a local police source told Xinhua.

Iraqi security forces fought fierce battles with a group of radical militants who planned to attack Shiite clerics during upcoming Shiite's Ashura commemorations, killing about 250 militants, the source said on condition of anonymity.

U.S. military confirms helicopter crash in combat operation in Iraq

Smoke rises from the site where a U.S. helicopter allegedly crashed near the town of Zarqa, north of the central Iraqi city of Najaf, Jan. 28, 2007.

Smoke rises from the site where a U.S. helicopter allegedly crashed near the town of Zarqa, north of the central Iraqi city of Najaf, Jan. 28, 2007. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
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BAGHDAD, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. military helicopter crashed on Sunday in a combat operation near southern Iraqi city of Najaf, killing two U.S. soldiers on board, the U.S. military confirmed in a statement.

Iraqi forces clash with militants S Baghdad

A blindfolded detainee sits inside a police vehicle after he was arrested in Najaf, Jan. 28, 2007.

A blindfolded detainee sits inside a police vehicle after he was arrested in Najaf, Jan. 28, 2007. (Reuters Photo)
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NAJAF, Iraq, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi security forces backed by U.S. helicopters fought fierce battles Sunday with radical militant group outside the Shiite holy city of Najaf, some 160 km south of Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua.