In Najaf, U.S. tanks and Iraqi troops have moved within 200 yards of the Imam Ali shrine and encircled the holy site occupied by Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr. Iraq’s Defense Minister warned that Iraqi National Guardsmen would soon move in to seize the mosque. At a press conference he said “We are in the last hours. This evening, Iraqi forces will reach the doors of the shrine and control it and appeal to the Mehdi Army to throw down their weapons. If they do not, we will wipe them out.” Today marks the 20th day of fighting in Najaf.