Posted on 11/19/2005 9:05:45 AM PST by mdittmar
Iraqi troops smash alleged terror cell in Baghdad
Baghdad, November 19 - A terrorist cell planning an attack on the Italian embassy in Baghdad has been smashed by Iraqi security forces, American military officials in the Iraqi capital said on Saturday .
The officials said Iraqi troops acting on US intelligence information moved against the alleged terrorists four days ago, arresting five suspects .
The Iraqi soldiers also seized two vehicles which the group was planning to use in the attack on the embassy building, they said .
The officials gave no other details of the operation .
The Iraqi Defence Ministry announced last Tuesday the arrest of five people whom it said were plotting to kill the ambassador of a "country allied to Baghdad" .
The ministry did not identify the country .
Sources at the Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome said the Italian government had been informed last week that a number of people had been arrested in the vicinity of the Italian embassy building in Baghdad .
But they said they had no details about the activities of the suspects or any information about an alleged plot to attack the building .
There have been repeated attempts to attack the Italian embassy in Baghdad and Italian diplomatic representatives .
In December 2004, five Iraqis were injured after six mortar rounds were fired at a building next to the embassy .
Two Iraqis were injured in a similar attack in September 2004 while in June of the same year, one Iraqi citizen was killed and several others injured after four mortar rounds were fired into the embassy compound .
In July 2004, an Italian diplomatic convoy narrowly escaped attack after a car bomb exploded seconds after it passed by .
Italy is a staunch ally of US President George W. Bush and almost 3,000 Italian troops are currently serving in Iraq, mainly in the southern part of the country. In November 2003, suicide bombers targeted the Italian Carabinieri police headquarters in the southern city of Nassiriya where the Italian contingent is based .
The attack left 19 Italians dead - 12 Carabinieri policemen, five soldiers and two civilians - and nine Iraqis .
It was the greatest single loss of life among Italian forces since the end of World War II .
Inteligence improves and Iraqi`s themselves are fed up
with these
nutjobs and are informing when they see supspicious
activity.
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