[tacticalogic]

Continuing to chant anti-Ansar slogans, the crowd, swelling into the thousands, moved on to attack a separate compound where the powerful pro-government Rafallah al-Sahati militia, safeguarding a big weapons store, opened fire on the assailants.

As looters later tried to leave the scene, vigilantes wielding clubs and machetes tried to prevent them driving off with heavy weapons.

Officials at three hospitals told a Reuters correspondent they had a total of five dead and more than 60 wounded from the night's violence.

Police found six more dead bodies near the compound on Saturday morning, police officer Ahmed Ali Agouri said.

"We came as peaceful protesters. When we got there they started shooting at us," student Sanad al-Barani said. "Five people were wounded beside me. They used 14.5 mm machineguns."

A crowd of thousands of protestors surrounds a militia compound. The militia opens up on them with .50 cal machine guns, and only kills 5 of them.

Seriously?

[Travis McGee]

If you have a belt of about 50-100 rounds of 50 caliber in the box, and no more handy, and nowhere to retreat, and you look out at a crowd of 10,000 coming at you waving swords, etc....

You do the math, and realize that after your belt is expended, you will be torn to pieces, literally, ripped to shreds.

And no 72 virgins for killing other Muslims.

[xone]

They used 14.5 mm machineguns."

The militia opens up on them with .50 cal machine guns,

.57 cal MGs actually.

[D-fendr]

Sounds like an early Mel Gibson movie.

The only sound conclusion is: “things are really messed-up there.”