Five casualties as Mahdi militia clashes with police in Baghdad

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31 
Baghdad, Mar 26, (VOI) -

At least one person was killed and four more were wounded on Wednesday as militants of the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's militia clashed with police forces in eastern Baghdad, a source from Iraqi Interior Ministry said.

"Clashes erupted, this afternoon, between police forces and gunmen from Mahdi army near Sabah al-Khayat square in al-Sha'ab neighborhood," the source told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).
He added "the clashes left one person dead and four wounded."

Meanwhile, the same source said that a mortar round landed, this afternoon, in Palestine Street, eastern Baghdad, wounding four civilians.

The Iraqi capital has been witnessing tensions after followers of the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr called for "civil disobedience," protesting what they termed a campaign by the government targeting Sadrists throughout Iraq, and particularly in Basra.
SK/SR

Katyusha attack kills, wounds eight in Kut
 
Wassit - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31 
Kut, Mar 26, (VOI) -

At least three civilians were killed and five others wounded, all members of the same family, on Wednesday when a Katyusha rocket fell on their home in Kut city, 180 km southeast of Baghdad, a police source said.

The attack occurred in Dour al-Shaoun quarter and the wounded "were in critical condition," the source, who declined to have his name mentioned, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).
"The attack also caused damage to some civilian property," he added.
Over the last few days, Kut, capital city of Wassit province, witnessed clashes between Iraqi security forces and fighters of the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi army.
SK/SR

Suicide bombing targets anti-Qaeda fighters near Tikrit
 
Salah al-Din - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31
Tikrit, Mar 26, (VOI) -

At least nine people, including seven anti-Qaeda (Sahwa) fighters were wounded on Wednesday as a suicide bomber detonated a car rigged with explosives at a checkpoint near Tikrit, a police source said.

The explosion occurred "on the main road leading to Mosul near al-Awjah village."
"The Sahwa elements fired at the car after its driver disobeyed orders to stop at the checkpoint, but he managed to detonate the car bomb," the source explained.

Government-backed-Sahwa (Awakening) councils are tribesmen who fought al-Qaeda in the predominantly Sunni areas.
Tikrit, a Sunni city and capital of Salah al-Din province, lies 175 km north of Baghdad.
SK/SR

2 gunmen killed, 3 captured in Diwaniya
 
Diwaniya - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31
Diwaniya, Mar 26, (VOI) –

Two gunmen were killed and three others were arrested in armed confrontations between security forces and gunmen at the center of Diwaniya city on Tuesday, commander of al-Baqr Emergency Brigade said on Wednesday.

"Clashes took place on Tuesday afternoon, between security forces and gunmen, on streets 30 and 60 in the center of Diwaniya city," Colonel Ghasan Mohammed told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
He added "two gunmen were killed and three others were arrested."

Mohammed referred that clashes are still ongoing, and a curfew will be imposed on Diwaniya city, starting from Wednesday 6 pm and until a further announcement in this regard.
On Tuesday, police forces imposed a curfew on Diwaniya city and its borders that started on Tuesday 6 pm, and ended on Wednesday 6 am, to avoid possible security violations.
According to a security source, security forces in Diwaniya deployed their elements in the city's streets, preparing for clashes that may erupt with gunmen.

Diwaniya, capital city of Diwaniya province, is 180 km south of Baghdad – capital city of Iraq.
MH/SR

Al-Karada re-mortared, casualties increase to 26
 
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31
Baghdad, Mar 26, (VOI) –

Two people were killed and six others were wounded when al-Karada neighborhood in Baghdad was mortared for the second time on Wednesday, police sources said.

"Two people were killed, and six others were wounded when a number of mortar shells hit different locations in al-Karada neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon," a police source told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

The source added, "Mortars hit the areas near to the Shiite shrine of Sayid Idreass, and near al-Hurriya Square."

This attack increased the bombarding casualties in al-Karada on Wednesday to five dead people, and 21 injuries, according to Iraqi police sources.

Earlier on Wednesday, mortar shells hit al-Karada neighborhood, killing three people and wounding 15 others.
MH/SR

2 gunmen killed, 64 suspects arrested over last 24 hours in Baghdad
 
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31 
Baghdad, Mar 26, (VOI)-

Iraqi security forces killed two gunmen, arrested 64 suspected gunmen, and defused two car bombs and four explosive charges in Baghdad over the last 24 hours," the Defense Ministry said on Wednesday.

“Two gunmen were killed in Salah el-Din and 64 suspected armed men were arrested during operations in Baghdad, Mosul, Salah al-Din, Diala, Kirkuk, and Fourat,” the ministry said in a statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).
“Two car bombs and four explosive devises were defused in Baghdad, Mosul, Salah el-Din, Diala, Kirkuk, al-Fourat al-Awsat,” he added.

SH/SR

2 Iraqi soldiers killed in Missan
 
Missan - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31 
Amara, Mar 26, (VOI)-

Two Iraqi soldiers were killed late Tuesday in armed confrontations between army forces and unknown gunmen, a security source said on Wednesday.

“Armed clashes broke out between Iraqi army troops and unidentified armed men near the intersection of Jisr al-Joumhouriya in central Amara, during which two soldiers were killed and three Hummers were destroyed,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI) on condition of anonymity.
Amara, the capital of Missan, lies 390 km south of Baghdad.

SH

Civilian casualties in IAF strike in Tikrit – U.S. army
 
Arbil - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31 
Baghdad, Mar 26, (VOI)-

The U.S. army said on Wednesday that a number of civilians were killed or injured in Air Force attack targeting al-Qaeda gunmen in the city of Tikrit.

“When the U.S. forces arrived in the targeted area in Tikrit, they were attacked by light arms. The forces responded by Air Force strike, leaving civilian casualties,” Abdellatif Rayan, media adviser for the Multi-National Force-Iraq, told Aswat al-Iraq - Voices of Iraq - (VOI).

SH

25 killed, injured in mortar attacks in Baghdad
 
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31 
Baghdad, Mar 26, (VOI)-

At least seven people were killed and 18 others were wounded on Wednesday in mortar shell attacks on two separate areas in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, said a police source.

“Several mortar shells landed on separate regions in al-Karada neighborhoods in central Baghdad, killing three persons and injuring six,” the source told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).
“Al-Resala neighborhood in southwestern Baghdad was mortared, leaving four dead and 12 wounded,” he added.

During the past two days, several regions and neighborhoods in Baghdad were subjected to a series of mortar shell attacks, during which scores were killed and injured.

SH

10 casualties in U.S. raid in Tikrit
 
Salah al-Din - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31
Tikrit, Mar 26, (VOI)-

U.S. forces raided a residential area in northern Tikrit and shelled it with incendiary bombs, injuring ten civilians, all women and children, a security source said on Wednesday.

“U.S. forces raided al-Qadissiya region in al-Dubar neighborhood on the wee small hours of the morning and used sound and incendiary bombs in the clashes with gunmen, the the matter that set some houses on fire,” the source, who asked for anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).
“Five women and five children were seriously injured in the attack and were rushed to the U.S. military hospital, north of Tikrit, for treatment,” he added.

“The forces still surrounding the region and preventing Iraqi police and army forces from approaching,” he noted.
No word was immediately available from the U.S. army on the incident.

SH

Mortar attack leaves 5 casualties in Baghdad
 
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31 
Baghdad, Mar 26, (VOI)-

A number of mortar shells landed on the fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, killing a civilian and injuring four others, eyewitnesses said on Wednesday.

“Three mortar rounds hit the Green Zone, leaving unspecified number of casualties,” an eyewitness told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).

“A fourth shell landed on the building number 17 in 28 Nissan compound near the foreign ministry, killing a civilian and wounding four,” another witness said.

During the last two days, the Green Zone was subjected to a series of attacks with mortar shells and Katyusha rockets.

The Green Zone in central Baghdad is the seat of the Iraqi government offices and the compound of the U.S. and British embassies.

SH

U.S. death toll in Iraq reaches 4,001
 
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31

Baghdad, Mar 26, (VOI)-

The U.S. army in Iraq said on Wednesday that one serviceman was killed by a hostile fire attack in Baghdad.

“A Multi-National Division – Baghdad Soldier was killed by a hostile fire attack at approximately 5 p.m. on March 25 while conducting combat operations,” the U.S. army said in a statement received by Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq (VOI).

The statement did not give more details.
The death brings the number of the U.S. troops killed in Iraq since the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003 to 4,001 according to statistics released by the U.S. army.

Of this number, 28 U.S. soldiers have been killed so far in March 2008.
November 2004, which witnessed fierce battles between U.S. forces and armed groups in Falluja city, Anbar province, remains the month that saw the highest U.S. death toll with 137.
April 2004 comes second with 135, followed by May 2007 during which 126 U.S. soldiers were killed.

SH

3 U.S. Embassy employees wounded in mortar attack
 
Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Wednesday , 26 /03 /2008  Time 9:29:31 
Baghdad, Mar 26, (VOI) –

Iraqi police sources and eyewitnesses said that the Green Zone in Baghdad was mortared on Wednesday.

Official spokesperson for the Multi National Forces in Iraq (MNF) revealed that three of the U.S. Embassy employees were wounded in the attack.
"A number of mortar shells hit the Green Zone, and loud explosions were heard," police sources told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

Eyewitnesses said "smoke columns that could be seen from a distance appeared at the site of the attack in the Green Zone."   
"Three U.S. Embassy employees were wounded in the attack," Abdul-Lateef Rayian, official spokesperson for the MNF, said to VOI.

According to eyewitnesses that work in the Green Zone, the area was subject to discontinuous bombarding that started on Wednesday's morning, and continued in to the afternoon.
One of the eyewitnesses said that around five dispatches of mortar shells hit the Green Zone on Wednesday morning, noon, and afternoon, targeting different places inside the area, and engendering smoke columns.

He explained that each dispatch consisted of four to six shells.
The Green Zone in Baghdad embraces offices of the Iraqi government, parliament, Presidential Council, in addition to the two embassies of the U.S. and U.K., and the embassies of other western countries in Iraq.

During the last two days, the Green Zone was subject to a series of mortar attacks, without Knowing the casualties.
The attacks came along with a disturbed security situation in Baghdad and a number of Iraqi southern provinces, due to the military operations conducted by the Iraqi governmental forces to track down Mahdi Army elements in Basra province.
MH/SR

---

Fair Use Notice

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.