Blurb:
The battle for control of southern Iraq is continuing for a fifth day.
In one of the latest offensives, eight people died, including two women and a child, in an air raid.
Meanwhile a witness in Baghdad has told Al Jazeera he saw up to 40 Iraqi army and police surrendering their weapons to supporters of the Mahdi Army.
Its leader, Muqtada Al-Sadr, is calling on Arab nations to support his fight against US forces in Iraq.
James Bays reports from Baghdad.