Posted on 06/07/2004 5:17:01 AM PDT by kattracks
KUFA, Iraq (Reuters) - Kufa mosque, a stronghold of radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada al Sadr, was rocked by explosions Monday when a nearby arms dump blew up and at least three people were killed, witnesses and hospital sources said.
A further 12 people were wounded but there were conflicting reports on the identities of the casualties.
Doctor Ali al-Tufaili at Kufa General Hospital said they were civilians, while witnesses and other doctors said the victims were members of Sadr's Mehdi Army militia.
Witnesses said there was slight fire damage to the mosque.
Militiamen loyal to Sadr prevented reporters from getting close to the arms depot.
Sadr launched an uprising two months ago and his militia fought skirmishes with occupying troops in Shi'ite towns in central and southern Iraq (news - web sites).
But last week the Shi'ite cleric ordered his militiamen in Kufa and the nearby holy city of Najaf to disarm.
In return, the U.S. military said it was suspending offensive operations against Sadr.
In a statement, the U.S. army said its forces were not operating in the area at the time of the explosion. It said there was no information on casualties.
(Bad news for the bad guys.)
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Bang! Zoom! --Ralph Cramden.
Doctor Ali al-Tufaili at Kufa General Hospital said "they were civilians" . . . Women and children, no doubt. I wonder how long Reuters had to look to find this clown.
Everything is turning up roses for al-Sadr, eh?
Most likley perfectly true.
LOL... It was only a force of one, or that they had left the area by the time it exploded?
I was thinking Marines or SEALs since the Army denied being there.
Workplace accident.
Absolutely! Our folks aren't stupid enough to wait around for detonation. ;-)
Actually, this looks more like the work of the Iraqi intelligence. Good for them. They're the ones who would most likely be able to get that close and take the kind of risk and make sure the people don't get upset.
Special Ops
I'm another one who is betting on the new Iraqi army or police.
They've figured out that they are in control now, and they don't like Sadr and his gang at all.
I'd like to see them step out and make a statement like that. I would interpret that as a sign that our boys would be coming home sooner.
The Iraqi leaders have been saying this stuff for days - ever since the Premier and Pres. were named.
But I can't agree that it's important for our troops to come home. It's important for them to become safe, but if we haven't had a problem with troops in Germany, S. Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, etc. for 50 years, I see no reason why we should not accept peace time troops in Iraq for a few years.
We're reducing troop sizes in all of the other foreign locations - why isn't it reasonable to move at least some of them to a peaceable Iraq?
We still have Syria and Iran to deal with. Lets not assume when Iraq is peacefull the rest of the mid east will be.Yes lets bring more troops. Lets finish this War on Militant Islam.
Iran is just waiting for Iraq to be free. They will overthrow the gov't as soon as they think they can get away with it.
Syria and Saudi Arabia will follow shortly. They'd rather control the transfer than be overwhelmed by it.
Iraq is the key.
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