One American was killed, al-Sader calls for continued resistance
Iraq-USA, Military, 5/22/2004

In his Friday's sermon, the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader called on his supporters at al-Kofa mosque to continue fighting against the occupation forces even if he is killed or detained.

Al-Sader said that the al-Mahdi army which belongs to him "will be rewarded by victory from Almighty God." He called on the religious references to take a united stand deploring the American aggressions against the holy shrines in Karbala and Najaf cities.

In Karbala, ten Iraqis were killed including one member of al-Jazeera team and wounding other 16 on Thursday evening between al-Mahdi army and the occupation forces.

Clashes renewed between the two sides in Najaf city and resulted in killing one person and wounding other 13. Strong explosions were heard and intensive fire was exchanged in the city yesterday.

Meantime, Madrid radio said that one Spanish radio correspondent was released held by gunmen that work for al-Sader in Najaf city after Spain has completed the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq.

In Karkouk, the American forces detained yesterday morning scores of al-Sader supporters in the city which is situated to the north of Iraq.

Meantime, two Iraqi civilians were injured as a result of a mortar explosion fired when an American convoy was running in Karkouk, according to a source representing the Iraqi police.

In a later development, an American military spokeswoman said that one soldier and two Iraqi civilians were killed yesterday when a mortar went off, defining not the place of the attack.

Few hours before, the American occupation forces said in a statement that one Marine soldier was killed in a traffic accident in al-Anbar governorate to the west of Iraq. On Thursday, one American soldier was killed and other three wounded in the downtown of Baghdad. Another American soldier was killed and a colleague of him wounded when a land mine went off in their tank in Sameraa city.

In Baqouba, witnesses and doctors said that gunmen opened fire at a nearby inspection point in the city which is situated to the north of Baghdad and killed four Iraqi security forces members.

One Iraqi civilian was also killed and three wounded including two policemen in a bomb explosion in Musil, according to a source in the Iraqi police.

On the other hand, news reports said quoting Iraqi security sources as saying that it had arrested four persons suspected to be involved in the killing of Nicolas Berg by the beginning of May.

Meanwhile, the American occupation forces released a new group of detainees from Abu Ghreib prison, to the west of Baghdad, among 427 detainees vowed to release them yesterday. Several of the released were seen in a bus heading to outside Baghdad, hundreds of their relatives were waiting for them outside the prison.

These development coincided with the continued search of the people of al-Qaem village on the Iraqi- Syrian borders in the remains for other bodies of the victims of the American bombardment which hit a gathering of Iraqi citizens celebrating a wedding party two days ago and resulted in killing 45 persons most of them are women and children. The citizens took out the body of one man said to be the photographer of the party while remains of musical instruments were also surfaced..

Previous Stories:
  Washington gives up one of its closest partners in occupation: breaking into Ahmad al-Chalabi home   (5/21/2004)
  Falluja maintains solidarity with al-Sader, ten Iraqis killed in battles in Baghdad, the south   (5/17/2004)
  Bush, Blair head for Baghdad   (5/17/2004)
  Occupation forces kill 41 of al-Sader supporters in battles in al-Najaf   (5/7/2004)
  Ending al-Falluja besiege, Occupation forces kill 11 Iraqis in al-Najaf   (5/6/2004)
  One occupation helicopter downed, two Americans killed in Iraq   (5/4/2004)

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