In Najaf hundreds of unarmed Shiites from across Iraq are arriving in the holy city of Najaf to act as human shields for cleric Moqtada al Sadr. The Independent of London reports 2,000 Shiites have pledged to die if needed to help stop the US from attacking the Imam Ali Shrine, one of the holiest sites in the Muslim world.

Meanwhile a delegation of 60 members of the Iraqi National Conference have been forced to postpone a scheduled trip to Najaf because the mission could not get a military escort for the dangerous journey from Baghdad to Najaf. The delegation was hoping to meet with Sadr to persuade him disarm his Mehdi Army and turn it into a political party.