Occupation tightens control on Iraqi borders; Four American soldiers killed in two attacks in Baghdad
Iraq-USA, Politics, 3/15/2004

The American army announced that four of its soldiers were killed in two separate explosions in Baghdad. A spokesman for the occupation forces said that three soldiers were killed and another was injured in an explosion that took place in an area to the south east of the capital, while the forth was injured by another explosion and died yesterday because of his wounds.

The American forces also announced on Saturday the killing of two American soldiers and wounding other four in an explosion which targeted their armored vehicle in Tikrit to the north of Baghdad. An American military spokesman said that the soldiers were in a vehicle in the downtown of the city when an explosive went off at one of the road's side.

The American occupation forces said that it detained some 11 persons in Tikrit after being suspected to having weapons and missiles shelling.

In Baqouba to the north of Baghdad, the Iraqi police announced that five Iraqis were injured on Saturday in an explosive which targeted an American military vehicle near the fuel station in the city. No casualties were inflected on the vehicle while several sedan cars were damaged.

On the other hand, the occupation forces announced it had decided to strengthen monitoring on the Iraqi borders and to make it difficult for what it called armed foreign groups to sneak into Iraq.

The American civil administrator of Iraq, Paul Bremer, said he will reduce crossing points along the Iraqi- Iranian borders from 19 to 3, which are al-Munzereyah, Zerbateyah and al-Shalameja and will increase number of border guards to reach 16,000.

In statements, Bremer attributed the decision to the existence of what he called foreign terrorists in Iraq, but denied to know their number, adding that the recent attacks reveal the importance of enhancing security along the border.

The spokesman for the American forces in Iraq, Gen. Mark Kemet, told the press he will discuss with Iran eliminating the number of its holy sites visitors in Iraq, stressing this will not affect the trade movement in the country.

As for the detainees, Kemet disclosed that there are some 10,000 Iraqis including 15 of other nationalities. He justified the great difference as not being an evidence on that the explosions are not the making of people who are sneaking into the country, noting that even one trained fighter from abroad constitute a great danger on the country.

Bremer vowed to allocate a sum of USD 60 million to enhance the capability of the Iraqi security forces to monitor the border.

Previous Stories:
  Two Americans were killed, al-Seistani disapproves of the constitution   (3/13/2004)
  CIA continues to finance Chalabi group for information about Iraqi resistance   (3/13/2004)
  Iraqi keldan and Assyrians complain for nominated Keldo- Assyrians; American fears to have the Iraqi police involved in attacks   (3/12/2004)

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