Five American soldiers, four contractors killed in Iraq, Powell regrets, vows political progress in Iraq to continue
Iraq-USA, Military, 4/1/2004

The US secretary of state Colin Powell expressed his confidence that Iraq will continue achieving political progress, despite the continuity of what he had called the wave of violence which overwhelms the country.

Powell expressed his regret over the killing of five American soldiers and four contractors in Iraq, noting that this incident will not obstruct the US from achieving its objectives in this country.

He said that the gunmen who are responsible for violence are the enemy of democracy, noting that "many good things are taking place in Iraq, but there are still persons from the remains of the old regime and terrorists who came to the country and others among those who do not want to see Iraq change into a democratic country nor the Iraqi people to live in peace and freedom." He said "we will deal with those and they will be defeated." Meantime, the Iraqi civil defense forces called on the people of al-Falouja for cooperation with it in order to restore back calmness to the city.

In a statement, the civil defense forces said that "negotiations for an agreement with the occupation forces was made in order to lift the siege imposed on the city and withdraw from it. We do hope you will cooperate to protect al-Falouja and ensuring its security." Marines units since last Thursday are blocking the eastern entrance of the city at the crossroad which links Baghdad to the borders with Syria and Jordan.

The marines forces incursion resulted in the eruption of fighting with members with the resistance forces and resulted in several killings from the Iraqi side and one killed from the marines forces.

Four American contractors were killed in al-Falouja in an attack at two cars they were riding on Wednesday morning and local citizens chopped their bodies.

Meantime, five American soldiers were killed when their vehicle was hit by a bomb placed on the roadside to the north west of al-Habbaneyah in al-Anbar province.

In Baqouba, some 12 persons were injured in an explosion which targeted a line of cars escorting the governor of Deyali.

In Southern Iraq, three British soldiers were wounded because of a bomb explosion near their car in al-Basra city which the American forces in Iraq take as a main headquarters.

Previous Stories:
  governing council set conditions for elections; One American is killed, al-Seisatni demands guarantees   (3/31/2004)
  One American killed in al-Falouja; Annan: work is underway to form a multinational force   (3/30/2004)
  American army admits the killing of Arabia journalists   (3/30/2004)
  More Iraqis children, women killed, occupation forces besieged Sameraa, hold its people   (3/29/2004)
  Clashes in al-Falouja, missiles against the green area; Washington: the situation in Iraq is very dangerous   (3/25/2004)
  One American, two Iraqis killed   (3/23/2004)

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