Two Iraqis killed in attack on Americans, orders for Baathists to surrender
Iraq-USA, Politics, 5/23/2003

The American occupation authorities in Iraq yesterday ordered officials of the Baath party totaling 10,000 to surrender themselves immediately within the framework of measures aiming at eliminating the former regime of Saddam Hussein.

A memo issued by the commander of the central American leadership Tommy Francs, the occupation radio broadcast its text in Arabic, said that "the coalition forces order all members of full membership in the Baath Party as well as intelligence departments officers to immediately come to coalition officials and wait for instructions to be given to them."

He added "there should be no activities for the Baath party because it no longer exists." The phrase "members with full membership" indicates the Party officials whose number is estimated at 200,000 ( while other estimates indicate 25 to 50 thousands ), while the party includes also 800,000 supporters or collaborators) while other estimated indicate 1 to 1.5 million ), according to occupation authorities.

Immediately following the announcement, small groups of members of the Baath party came to the entrance of the complex which includes the general headquarters of the occupation in Baghdad, frightened. One of them said "we heard through the radio the statement which asks us to come to the Americans."

In this regard, the American central leadership said that the American forces arrested on Wednesday a former official in the Baath Party whose name is listed on Washington's list for the wanted Iraqis. It explained in a statement, that Aziz Saleh Nu'man was the secretary of the Baath Party leadership for west Baghdad. In the past Nu'man was the governor for both Kerbala and al-Najaf. the statement said the arrested Iraqi was number 8 on the wanted list.

On the other hand, two Iraqi civilians were killed in al-Fallouja on Wednesday when gunmen opened missile shelling at an armored vehicle for the occupation forces. Iraqi citizens accused the American soldiers of opening fire indiscriminately in retaliation to the attack.

The US leader who is in charge of Fox unit which occupied al-Falouja Mike RedMuller said his soldiers were attacked by missiles and by Kalashinkov machine guns while touring the city. He added "we were exposed to sniper fire from roofs of houses and we retaliated by fire for two hours."

On the other hand, the central American leadership announced that one American soldier was killed in a traffic accident that took place on Wednesday near Baqouba city to the east of Baghdad.

Previous Stories:
  Bremer: national conference in July, before interim authority;Iraqi soldiers demonstrate; US businessman: war was for oil   (5/22/2003)
  Iraqi interim administration to draw constitution; elections in two years, occupation will deliver authority only to an elected government   (5/21/2003)
  Occupation abrogates Iraqi intelligence: the media, interior and defense employees sacked   (5/21/2003)

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