US tanks deploy in Baghdad as Shiite radicals take to streets

AFP ^ | 4/3/04 | AFP

[Mark Felton]

BAGHDAD : US tanks deployed in the Iraqi capital to stop hundreds of angry protestors marching on the coalition's city-centre headquarters as Shiite Muslim radicals took to the streets across central and southern Iraq.

The protest in the capital turned violent as some supporters of radical leader Moqtada Sadr threw themselves at the US tanks and a police officer said at least two of the demonstrators had been crushed.

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There was no immediate confirmation of the deaths from police headquarters or the US military.

Huge protests were also held in the central pilgrimage city of Najaf and as far south as Amara, while unarmed militiamen from Sadr's Mehdi Army paraded in Sadr City, a sprawling mainly Shiite neighbourhood of the capital regarded as a radical stronghold.

Sadr's followers have held almost daily demonstrations to protest the decision by the coalition last Sunday to close his weekly newspaper for 60 days on charges of inciting violence.

Early Saturday, Sadr supporters took to the streets of Najaf, reacting to unfounded rumours that Spanish coalition soldiers had detained Mustafa Yaacubi, the head of his office in the city.

Spanish commanders "categorically" denied the charge in a statement that was distributed to the crowd that formed outside the headquarters of the Spanish-led Plus Ultra Brigade in Najaf until mid-evening.

The protestors dismissed the denial, demanding the release of Yaacubi and calling for another sit-in to take place Sunday morning.

Rumours of Yaacubi's arrest also spread to the southern city of Amara where thousands of protestors took to the streets to vent their anger, an AFP correspondent said.

Sheikh Qais al-Khazaali, the head of Sadr's office in Baghdad, warned that his movement would react if Yaacubi was not quickly released.

"This is a new provocation by the coalition forces," Sheikh Khazaali told AFP. "If he is not quickly released, our movement, our leadership and our supporters will react with the means at our disposal."

Another rumour that coalition forces were surrounding Sadr's office in Najaf spread in the afternoon, prompting hundreds of his followers to head to the coalition's Baghdad headquarters in buses and cars, correspondents said.

Their advance was stopped by police units and at least half a dozen US tanks which cordoned off streets leading to the heavily fortified administrative compound.

An AFP correspondent saw one young man lunging at a tank which stopped abruptly without harming him. The crowd cheered the young man and then protestors upturned carts to block the road.

"There were two or three dead among the protestors who threw themselves under American tanks which could not avoid them," said Sergeant Abbas Mohamad.

In similar clashes Friday evening, three Salvadoran soldiers were shot and wounded as they tried to disarm what the San Salvador press described as pro-Sadr militiamen in Kufa, just outside Najaf.

Major Carlos Herradon, spokesman for the Plus Ultra Brigade, said the shooting erupted when the troops tried to disarm the militiamen in the shrine city, a Sadr stronghold, and a group of them opened fire.

He added that one of the soldiers remained in hospital Saturday.

Unlike the mainstream Shiite religious parties -- the Dawa and the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq -- Sadr has refused to take part in coalition-installed interim bodies and has had often troubled relations with coalition troops.

But the weekend's demonstrations marked a sharp escalation of the radical leader's campaign of opposition to the US-led occupation.

The violence came as UN special envoy Lakhdar Brahimi was due to return to Baghdad within two days to discuss the coalition's plans to transfer power to a caretaker government by June 30 and hold elections by the end of January.

- AFP

[archy]

Bring on the cheese! The watermellons!

The birthday cake will be sliced to pieces! Aieeee!

[archy]

Demonstrators rally past an American tank during an anti American protest in Baghdad, Iraq , Sunday April 4, 2004. In the southern city of Najaf, gunfire rang and at least four Iraqis, including two soldiers, were killed on Sunday during a protest outside a Spanish military garrison, unidentified witnesses and a hospital worker said. At least 30 people were injured.

(AP Photo/Samir Mizban)

[archy]

Just heard a news report that another American has been killed in Falluja. L.A. News Radio KFI is going to have a report by former Marine Captain Dale Dye at 08:30 CA time, in about 7 minutes from now unless I crossed up the time change Sunday night. KFI radio online audio, streaming on the web *here*

[archy]

Just heard a news report that another American has been killed in Falluja. L.A. News Radio KFI is going to have a report by former Marine Captain Dale Dye at 08:30 CA time, in about 7 minutes from now unless I crossed up the time change Sunday night. KFI radio online audio, streaming on the web *here*

[Travis McGee]

Dale Dye was a grunt in the Battle of Hue, and was a mustang officer in Beirut I believe. He should have some great insights into urban warfare in Fallujah.

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Just heard a news report that another American has been killed in Falluja. L.A. News Radio KFI is going to have a report by former Marine Captain Dale Dye at 08:30 CA time, in about 7 minutes from now unless I crossed up the time change Sunday night. KFI radio online audio, streaming on the web *here*

84 posted on 04/05/2004 11:18:14 AM EDT by archy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thanks, archy.

"Coming up in a few minutes.."

[archy]

*Coming up in a few minutes.."*

Airing *Now*. 10 US troops KIA last 24 hours, 2 Marines.

[archy]

DYE REPORT ON KFI INTERRUPTED FOR FEED AND PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE

DEVELOPING/BREAKING

[skinkinthegrass]

..In fact, they are NOT just like us. They are inferior to us and cannot really be helped without first smashing them so severely and with such fury and humilation, that not one of them would even dare to think of raising a hand against an American.

Hmm...That's the problem w/ PGM. Not enough damage/loss of life.

(monday morning quaterbacking)...the Anti-Saddam Forces MUST CRUSH ANY/ALL Pro-Saddam/Iman resistance Forces...Destroy the cities/hovels block-by-block, if need be, in the areas of armed resistance...use a Very big deadly stick/Carrot approach...they must understand, they have been/were beaten.

[MEG33]

Arrest warrant for Sadr..asked by ME reporter can't we do something,compromise to avoid bloodshed over this..Kimmitt says Sadr can walk into any police station and surrender peacefully,be treated with dignity like any person under arrest..

[af_vet_rr]

The protest in the capital turned violent as some supporters of radical leader Moqtada Sadr threw themselves at the US tanks and a police officer said at least two of the demonstrators had been crushed.

In addition to bringing them freedom, I believe we should be importing Darwin Award trophies.

[Poohbah]

"There were two or three dead among the protestors who threw themselves under American tanks which could not avoid them," said Sergeant Abbas Mohamad.

OK, people: "What's the funny goop between the treadplates of an M1A2 Abrams?"

Answer: "Slow infantrymen."

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Heaping burning coals on Sadr's head.

[rrrod]

I have no doubts about the skill of our military..i have no doubts concerning the resolve of GWB...this is going to get tough and will likely get uglier as we approach nov. elections. Our troops will face some tough days and we need to let them know we support them 100%...be safe guys

[MEG33]

I think I was hearing a Cent Com briefing "dumb reporter's question" moment!

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

I think I was hearing a Cent Com briefing "dumb reporter's question" moment!

I just hit the abuse button on my 'transcript' to correct Dale Dye's name.

Seems like old times, lol.

[blackie]

We are winning ~ the bad guys are losing ~ trolls, terrorists, democrats and the mainstream media are sad ~ very sad!

~~ Bush/Cheney 2004 ~~

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!