al-Sader resorts to al-Najaf. Confrontations extent to al-Kout, al-Amjara and al-Nasereyah, 26 Iraqi killed, 12 American soldiers killed

The American occupation forces yesterday committed what some called a massacre in al-Falouja, which has been isolated from the outer world since three days. The massacre resulted in killing 26 Iraqis and wounding 30 most of them are children and women. The answer was quick and 12 American soldiers were killed in a large scale night attack against the American forces position in the nearby al-Ramadi city.

Meantime, bloody confrontations in Iraq were expanded between the supporters if Muqtada al-Sader and the American forces to al-Kout, al- Amara and al-Nasereyah, resulting until yesterday with more than 600 Iraqis killed or wounded. This however, constituted a greater challenge for the American occupation forces since the collapse of Saddam Hussein regime.

Meantime, al-Sader resorted to al-Najaf, ending thereby his sit in in al-Koufa mosque and announcing his determination to "shed his blood" for the sake of " every thing sacred for me." Iraqi witnesses said the occupation planes bombarded by missiles yesterday evening four houses in al-Falouja and caused the killing of scores of Iraqis including children and women. Doctor Rafe al-Eswai from al-Falouja hospital said that the hospital received the bodies of 26 Iraqis and 30 wounded.

The occupation forces had also carried out a series of house to house acts of breaking-in in al-Falouja during which it detained 14 persons and announced the death of 11 Iraqis since the beginning of the operation in addition to five American soldiers in al-Falouja and its surrounding.

Later in the day, an official at the US defense department said that 12 American naval troops were killed yesterday after their position was attacked in al-Ramadi city to the west of Baghdad.

Preliminary reports indicated that scores of Iraqis attacked the site near the palace of al-Ramadi ruler and continued that "12 marines were killed," noting that large numbers of the Iraqis were killed and that its is not known precisely which side had launched the attack.

For its part, the American " Fox News" network said that 11 marines were killed and 20 wounded in the city while CNN and ABC said that 12 marines were killed and CNN explained that the attack in al-Ramadi was launched by supporters of Saddam Hussein and not the supporters of Muqtada al-Sader.

However, with the increase in the number of killing and wounding in the lines of the " coalition" forces like the Italian, the Ukraine, Bulgarian and Polish forces, the US defense department announced its readiness to increase number of troops in Iraq in case occupation leaders ask for that.

Meantime, London and Rome announced they will not be subjected to the "armed militias " in Iraq at a time British officials said that the British prime minister Tony Blair will head for Washington on April 16 to hold talks with the American President George W. Bush on the Iraqi issue.