Posted on 04/29/2006 9:13:21 PM PDT by Wiz
BAQUBA, Iraq -- Iraqi security forces battled insurgents around Baquba on Friday despite a curfew as rebels launched massive attacks on checkpoints to seize control of the restive city.
Baquba police chief Ghassan Bawi said that 25 rebels were killed since Thursday in clashes between Iraqi security forces and insurgents, adding "gunmen carried out attacks on checkpoints today also".
Another 43 insurgents were arrested, the military said.
Baquba, a mixed Sunni-Shia city 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, has seen a surge in violence since December's national election as rebels exploited a protracted deadlock over the formation of Iraq's next government.
Diyala governor Rad Rasheed Al Mulla imposed a curfew across the province, of which Baquba is the capital, following Thursday's brutal attacks on checkpoints that left 16 people dead, including six Iraqi soldiers.
The US military said that the attacks began in southern Baquba on Thursday when the Buhriz police station and five police checkpoints were simultaneously attacked with mortar rounds, rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire.
In the village Deli Abbas, the Iraqi army headquarters were reportedly attacked by more than 100 rebels with mortar rounds, rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire, the military said.
The soldiers returned fire, killing four rebels. Six Iraqi soldiers died and eight were wounded in the attack, the military said, adding that two civilians were also killed and four were wounded.
In one of the attacks on Thursday, rebels approached a checkpoint posing as a wedding party in a convoy of vehicles, one of which was decorated with ribbons and flowers. A group of them then jumped out of the vehicles and sprayed the checkpoint with bullets.
"The attackers planned to seize control of south, west and southwest entrances to the city," Mulla said. "But they failed."
(Excerpt) Read more at metimes.com ...
The Iraqi soldiers are fighting back, and winning, apparently.
I think it is over. The curfew has been lifted.
The good guys won.
Tet offensive failed....
The kids gloves are coming off!
ping
What is it with these guys and weddings?
BTTT
Oh, that's all we need; Bush or Rummy claiming that the rebels are inspired by homosexual tendencies. It will start a revolution in San Francisco!
Heheh, I had a more realistic thought that Achmed, after spending a night with his future mother in law decided to commit suicide!.....either that or his bride asked him once too often to take out the garbage.....just a thought.
But the wedding party thing is getting a little old.
Depends on the munitions used to quell the rebels....
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