Ending al-Falluja besiege, Occupation forces kill 11 Iraqis in al-Najaf
Iraq-USA, Military, 5/6/2004

The American occupation forces yesterday killed some 11 Iraqis from the partisans of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader in violent clashes that took place in Baher al-Najaf between these forces and members of al-Mahdi army.

Sounds of the explosions were strong and fire exchanged was heard in al-Najaf while smoke columns were seen in the north west part of the city.

In Karbala, news reports said that two Iraqi civilians were killed and a third was injured following armed confrontations in the city between the supporters of al-Sader and the occupation forces in the city on Tuesday evening during which the occupation forces bombarded al-Sader cultural foundation and this led to its destruction.

A spokesman for the occupation forces said that one of its soldiers was killed during the clashes. Witnesses said that some 30 military vehicles were deployed at the western entrance of the city while a strong explosion was heard at the surrounding of the city.

A security source in Karbala said successive vehicles for the Polish forces escorted by helicopters roamed as from Tuesday morning until yesterday morning the streets of Karbala opening its fire in search of members of al-Mahdi army. During the operations three cars were burnt in al-Baladeyah quarters which is only one kilometer from the holy Shiite shrines.

In al-Dewaneyah to the south of al-Najaf, the American forces yesterday controlled the office of "Martyrs al-Sader " following clashes that resulted in killing some 14 Iraqis including nine members of al-Mahdi army and five civilians.

Scores of al-Sader's supporters headed yesterday from al-Koufa to fight against the Americans and their British allies, according to some fighters.

In al-Kout, one medical source announced that two Baathists were killed and other 4 injured yesterday by bullets fired by unidentified persons in the city which is situated to the south east of Baghdad.

Meantime, news reports in Baghdad said that one American military truck was destroyed on the main road in Abu Ghreib area to the west of Baghdad, when one explosive went off targeting a military vehicle yesterday morning. The occupation forces cordoned the region, while helicopters were seen evacuating the wounded.

In Falluja, the American occupation forces announced it was due to lift the security belt maintained in the north west area of the city so as to permit traffic for the first time since one month.

Previous Stories:
  American army admits deaths, some because of torture in its detention centers   (5/5/2004)
  Lteif assumes the leadership of al-Falluja contingent, Saleh commends Marines' cooperation   (5/5/2004)
  One occupation helicopter downed, two Americans killed in Iraq   (5/4/2004)
  Six American soldiers, five Iraqis killed, one American hostage escapes   (5/3/2004)
  Marines start today withdrawal from al-Falluja, 12 American soldiers killed   (4/30/2004)
  A bloody month in Iraq   (4/29/2004)

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