Nine Americans were wounded, occupation bombards a mosque; 40 killed
Iraq-USA, Politics, 4/8/2004

The American forces in Iraq targeted a mosque and resulted in killing more than 40 persons, at a time the American army announced that it continued its advancement into the city of Faluja amid fierce fighting and is now controlling " 25% of it."

Witnesses said that more than 40 Iraqis were killed when the occupation forces bombarded Abdul Aziz al-Samera' mosque in the city. They explained that one helicopter fired three missiles at the mosque while the worshippers were gathering inside to perform their Maghreb ( afternoon) prayers and this resulted in destroying its outer wall. The witnesses added that the houses around the mosque were made hospitals to treat the wounded.

The spokesman for the American central leadership Bruce Frame said that five American Marine soldiers were wounded by resistance men who were fortified inside the mosque and this pushed the occupation forces to bombard it, noting that the American forces very often avoid religious sites " but this mosque had lost its immunity after it was used by the rebels as a fortified point for launching fire." The American col. Brinan Byron who ordered the bombardment stressed that the 40 Iraqis were killed noting that the bombardment operation was carried out by American helicopters and one F 16 plane which dropped a 225 Kg bomb on the mosque.

Byron said that the marines "control 25% of the city," noting that the marines proceeded from the south and reached in the downtown of Faluja amid violent fighting. The American occupation forces started its attack in Faluja on Tuesday evening when it bombarded by warplanes four houses and this resulted in killing 26 persons including 16 children and 8 women, according to medical sources in the city and the fighting between the Iraqi resistance men and the American forces on Tuesday resulted in killing 34 Iraqis and wounding other 130.

The mosques in Faluja yesterday called, through loudspeakers on the people for "Jihad" and women were seen in the streets carrying weapons and a statement was circulated in the city saying that the resistance people downed three helicopters for the American forces and burnt 12 armored vehicles.

Witnesses said that the fighting on Wednesday was taking place in five quarters of the city which are al-Dubbat, and al-Askari ( east), the Golan ( North) al-Shuhadaa ( south), the industrial quarter ( west ).

In neighboring al-Ramadi, a statement issued by the marines said the American forces on Wednesday controlled the whole city following the killing of 12 marines and wounding other 12 in confrontations with Iraqi resistance men.

Press reports said that the massacre of Faluja mosque resulted in killing 30 American troops and killing of more than 130 Iraqis in the fighting in Faluja and Ramadi.

In al-Hweija near Karkouk, 8 Iraqis were killed and other 12 wounded in a fire exchange between the occupation soldiers and hundreds of demonstrators who were protesting against the American operation in Faluja. This also resulted in wounding 4 Americans, according to the Iraqi police.

Previous Stories:
  Washington: occupation cost is USD 4 billion per month   (4/7/2004)
  Occupation: al-Sader is involved in three cases   (4/7/2004)
  Continued confrontations in Iraq, up to 61 killed and 341 wounded Occupation: a warrant against al-Sader   (4/6/2004)

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