Posted on 04/16/2005 1:30:11 AM PDT by iso
KUT, Iraq (AFP) - Iraqi Shiites were fleeing the town of Al-Madain south of Baghdad after gunmen rounded up more than 80 residents and threatened to kill them.
"Gunmen are going around with loudspeakers demanding that all Shiites leave the town," said Captain Haitham Mohammed of the Iraqi army who fled Madain with several people to the city of Kut further south.
"They have detained more than 80 people, including women and children, and they are threatening to kill them unless Shiites leave."
Mohammed said many Iraqi soldiers and police officers have changed into civilian clothing and have fled the mixed Sunni-Shiite town on the Tigris river 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of the capital.
"Gunmen have ringed the town," said Khodeir Abbas, 72, who fled with 10 members of his family.
A distraught Abbas Mahmoud, 47, a labourer in Madain's market said: "I fled the town fearing they would kill me if I stayed."
Dozens of families from Madain, which is built on the site of the ancient city of Ctesiphon, were arriving on Saturday in Kut, 200 kilometres (120 miles) south of Baghdad, an AFP correspondent said.
The road linking Baghdad with Kut is among the most dangerous in the country where several beheaded bodies have surfaced in recent months.
They are trying to start a civil war.
You are right , I hope U.S. army and Iraq soldiers can take those terrorists .
Because there is 80 hostages ?
That isn't reason , I remember U.S. soldiers attack Falluja found some hostages .
My guess is that this is where the American hostage is being held as well.
The lesson of Fallujah is that you do not wait before surrounding and then attacking cities like this.
Gunmen are going around with loudspeakers targets held in front of their face.
All the Shia should leave. Then the Iraqi SF and US Army and Marines should rescue the hostages and kick butt.
The boys need to make sure the civilians will be the only ones who leave that town......alive.
The Sunnis are begging for an ethnic cleansing at the hands of the Kurds and Shiites.
not one of thee hostage takers should be alowed to walk away .
No prisoners
FOX news is reporting a major nighttime raid being mounted in this case . Hopefully it will be resolved favorably for the
hostages soon.
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