Five Iraqis, American soldiers killed, revenge assassination raises fears of sectarianism
Iraq-USA, Politics, 12/19/2003

The American occupation army in Iraq considered that number of attacks against the Iraqi policeto have increased in December while the level of the occupation forces remains the same.

One U.S. soldier was killed and other 4 wounded in different operations carried out by the Iraqi resistance yesterday, at a time when reciprocated assassination operations took place between the Sunni and the Shiite, and raised fears of revenge operations in various parts of Iraq between the supporters of the former regime and its opponents.

Gunmen killed the official in the Higher Council For the Islamic Revolution in Iraq Muhannad al-Hakim near his house in Baghdad on Wednesday evening, according to the spokesman for the council, Adel Abdul Mahdi, who said yesterday that "the killed man has no kinship to the chairman of the council Abdul Aziz al-Hakim," while other sources said that the killed man was his cousin.

Muhannad al-Hakim, who was the security official at the ministry of education, was hit by three bullets in his head in al-Baya quarters, when unidentified persons opened fire at him from a car which was running speedily near his house. Abdul Mahdi blamed the killing operation on "partisans of the former regime." The council's official in al-Najaf, Ahmad D'eible, said that the killed man "was a member in the committee to eliminate the Baath party, and he had received threats of killing last week, but did not take it seriously."

One American soldier and Iraqi translator were killed, and one soldier was injured in an ambush installed on Wednesday evening for an American patrol in al-Karradah quarters in Baghdad, according to an American statement. In Musil, two U.S. soldiers were wounded by anti armored vehicle missile, while a third soldier was wounded when 8 mortars shells fell on an American position, according to the Iraqi security department.

The American army general Mark Kemit said that: in December, the number of attacks against the coalition forces remained at an average of 22 operations per day, but the attacks against the Iraqi security reached three attacks on average, an increase from the previous level of two attacks daily.

The American forces continued a campaign of breaking in and detentions in Baghdad and its surroundings. This however, resulted in killing two Iraqis while they were trying to attack an American vehicle in Sameraa, where 86 persons were detained within 24 hours. An American officer said that among the detainees was a former assistant for Qusai Hussein, the younger son of the former Iraqi President. He was arrested in Baghdad, according to information from local Iraqi sources. One American spokesman said that one man opened fire yesterday at an American vehicle in Sameraa while doing inspections in the city, and he was killed by the Americans. He added that his soldiers killed another man while riding a truck, and they had suspected his behavior and opened fire at him.

The spokesman said that 12 of the detained 86 men were chased over suspicion of launching operations against the occupation. During the campaign, some 200 guns were found and equipment to manufacture mortars.

Meantime, demonstrations in support of the toppled Iraqi president continued, and some 1000 persons demonstrated in al-Hweijah city to the west of Karkouk, firing bullets in the air in protest for arresting Saddam. However, a counter demonstration staged the same area included hundreds of Shiite and Turkmans in the streets of Karkouk.

Meantime, one American statement said that two soldiers died as they drowned in Tigris river. No details were given on the incident.

Previous Stories:
  Scores killed, wounded in Baghdad explosion, 3 US soldiers wounded   (12/18/2003)
  Demonstrators denounce Saddam's capture; Bush: situation is difficult   (12/17/2003)
  Saddam Hussein proposed negotiations, denied existence of mass destruction weapons   (12/16/2003)
  17 Iraqi policemen killed in booby trapped car explosion; American soldier killed   (12/15/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search