Clashes continued in Iraq

A strong explosion took place yesterday in the downtown of Baghdad where a smoke was seen while armored vehicles headed to the western part of Tigris.

In another development, one American soldier was hit and 6 Iraqi civilians were slightly injured in a booby trapped car explosion when an American procession was running near a base for the American army in al-Dajil, 60 Km to the north of Baghdad. One American military spokesman said that three Iraqis were detained while being in a nearby building to the accident and taken for investigations.

Meantime, news reports said that clashes erupted in al Jeyara quarters in al- Sader city in Baghdad between the American forces and members of al-Mahdi army after the American forces broke into houses in the areas. A matter considered by al-Mahdi army as a violation to the agreement between the two sides.

The American and Iraqi forces continued their military operations against the armored elements in Tel Afer to the northern west of al-Musil where three Iraqis were killed and other nine were killed in clashes took place on Sunday morning.

The American bombardment of the town on Saturday resulted in killing 13 Iraqi civilians and wounding scores.

The American forces in Iraq also arrested 15 Iraqis during a breaking in operation to a building to the southern west of Baghdad. An American military statement said that the operation was executed on Saturday according to intelligence information that talked on using the building as a base for implementing attacks. The American statement said that large amounts of weapons and missiles were confiscated.

Four Iraqi were also injured in a bomb explosion that targeted an American patrol to the west of Baqouba city to the north east of Baghdad.

In another development, the Iraqi police announced finding the body of one Egyptian who was kidnapped in Iraq in August. The body of Naser Juma was found on the roadside, 15 Km from Beiji to the north of Baghdad. Police sources that the body bears traces of tortures and his feet and hands were tied.