Prophet Adam (A.S) and Prophet Nuh (Noah) (A.S) are also burried in the shrine of Imam Ali (A.S) in Najaf, Iraq.

Baghdad, Iraq

US warplanes bombed Moqtada Sadr's militia and fire from the American forces on the ground damaged the outer wall of Imam Ali's shrine in Najaf, wintnesses said Monday.

The latest fighting comes after US planes and helicopters carried out assault on targets overnight.

Witnesses said US shells had fallen in the vicinity of the holy shrine damaging its outer wall.

Several people were reported to have been killed and injured.

However, the US army denied that the holy shrine had been targeted.

A dent measuring about one metre square had been punched about 30 centimetres into the shrine's outer compound wall overnight, with rubble and spent parts of a rocket littered on the marble floor, the AFP reported.

US warplanes also bombed a cemetery, Valley of Peace [Wadi us Salam] , in their latest attack in Najaf. Many prophets, including Prophet Abraham, are burried in this cemetery.

The latest assault by the US forces comes amid hopes that talks to end the crisis will resume. Sadr's men say they still want to hand over the administration of the shrine to Syed Ali Sistani.

The militia had removed their arms from the Imam Ali Shrine on Friday and had offered the keys to aides of Syed Sisitani who according to reports have refused to take over until the former evacuate the shrine.

Sadr's men said they wanted a delegation from Syed Sistani's office to first inspect the shrine and make sure its treasures were intact.

The shrine of Imam Ali houses many rare treasures, jewels, silken carpets and ornaments, gifted by famous Indian, Persian and Middle-Eastern kings. The griff of the tomb is made of pure silver and is covered with a golden dome, decorated by fantastic colored mosaic mirrors and other valuables like the golden candles presented by the Persian king, Nadir Shah.

The shrine also has many ancient manuscripts.

Also in Iraq, One Turkish national and five Iraqis were killed in a string of deadly roadside attacks across the country.

Although a kidnapped US journalist, Micah Garen, and his Iraqi translator were released on Sunday, there is still no news of French reporters Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot, who were last seen in Baghdad on Friday and are thought to have been kidnapped on their way to Najaf.

Italian reporter Enzo Baldoni has also been missing since Thursday. The body of what was thought to have been his driver was discovered near Najaf.