Demonstration in Baghdad rejecting occupation; US forces redeployed
Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/19/2003

Thousands of Iraqis demonstrated in front of Abu Huneifa mosque in Baghdad calling for the evacuation of the American forces from Iraq.

The demonstrators hoisted the Iraqi flags and chanted slogans against the USA and carried banners which read "No for the USA." The Imam of the mosque said that the US had invaded Iraq for the interests of "Israel." He denied Iraq's having mass destruction weapons.

In the same context, a group of Iraqi religious elders said that the Iraqi people have all reasons that permit them to justify defending themselves against the American occupation. They said that what is needed now is weapons in order to liberate Iraq from occupation, stressing that all strata in the country will take part in the battle.

They explained that the US wants to control the Iraqi oil, to strengthen Israel after the war, stressing that the Iraqi people who are born from thousands of years old civilizations are able to solve their special problems stressing that history proves the credibility of the liberation struggle movements against foreign occupation.

Imam of al-Hussein mosque in Kerbala has called for ending the American occupation of Iraq and called on the Iraqi people to maintain unity and withstand the difficult conditions the country is passing.

On the other hand, Amerian military sources announced yesterday that members of the fourth American army contingent that includes 30,000 soldiers will replace the American Marines in Baghdad within the few coming days.

News reports said that life has started to return back to normal to Baghdad on some streets and quarters after all trade centers were closed upon the beginning of the American attack and during the situation of disorder which prevailed later with looting operations.

The reports explained that some business owners opened their trade centers on the hope to receive customers that can bring back life to the al-Sadoun commercial street of the currency exchange shops, restaurants and cinema houses. However, certain owners of these shops expressed their pessimism over the future of Iraq with the existence of American forces in the streets of Baghdad and called for the evacuation of the American forces from Iraq.

They stressed there will be no peace unless being with a national government. They refused to recognize the "good will" of the American forces to ensure security in the streets following looting operations that lasted for days, stressing that the Americans are occupation forces and that the people are not happy with their existence in Baghdad.

Meantime, the American forces, deployed in Iraq, arrested Sameer Abdul Aziz al-Najm, one of the former Iraqi official, while the US Department Of State announced the release of 925 Iraqi civilians during military operations in Iraq.

A new list by the US said that number of killings in the lines of the American forces in Iraq increased to 126. A spokesman for the US defense department said on Thursday that 109 were killed in the fighting by he had called friendly fire and other 17 soldiers in incidents. The new list also said that the wounded among the Americans reached 495 while other 3 soldiers are still missing.

Meantime, American officials announced that the US will send a 12- member team to Iraq to carry out what they called " a search for mass destruction weapons." CNN quoted these officials as saying that an army General will more expectedly lead the group which will include military men, and scientists in the private sector and the team may assume its work within two weeks.

Previous Stories:
  Looting of Iraq's museums amounts to cultural, human catastrophe, Moroccan press   (4/18/2003)
  Iraqi museums' looting is a catastrophe, ALECSO's director general   (4/17/2003)
  Iraq museums looting are acts of barbarity, UMA chief   (4/17/2003)

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