Powell in Baghdad, Falluja killing increased to 13
Iraq-USA, Politics, 7/30/2004

US secretary of state Colin Powell arrived in Baghdad today morning coming from Kuwait in an undisclosed visit. He is expected to hold talks with Iraqi officials.

Powell yesterday met with the interim Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi in Saudi Arabia.

On Thursday, the US secretary of state stressed in Kuwait that the postponement of the Iraqi interim national congress until mid of August will not affect the schedule of the elections in Iraq, noting that the two events are not interlinked nor interrelated.

Powell, however, is considered the highest American official to visit Baghdad since the authority's transfer from the coalition forces led by the US to the Iraqis on June 28.

Powell's visit is considered the first carried out by the chief of the American diplomacy to Iraq since this country was invaded by the Anglo-American forces in March, 2003.

Meantime, victims of the raid launched by the American forces against Falluja on Thursday and the armed confrontations erupted between the American forces and gunmen in the city increased to 13 while other 13 were reported as wounded.

Iraqi medical sources in Falluja hospital said that the number of killed persons in the American raids and the accompanied clashes increased to 13 but did not define the identity of the victims.

News reports in Iraq said that the situation is calm today in Falluja following yesterday's confrontations which concentrated in the industrial quarters which adjoins the city's entrance which was bombarded intensively by the American jets and armored vehicles.

Citizens said that the American forces destroyed one house during the clashes. News reports quoted witnesses that they heard 60 mortars shelling falling on an American military base positioned in the eastern part of the city.

A statement for the American army said that the Iraqi security forces took place with the American forces in the clashes taking place with the gunmen and the helicopters bombarded one target in the industrial quarters to the east of Falluja.

Previous Stories:
  One American soldier killed in Baghdad   (7/29/2004)
  Washington reconsider the status of Mujahidee Khalq in Iraq   (7/27/2004)
  Two American soldiers were killed, Allawi calls for bringing in Arab forces to Iraq   (7/23/2004)

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