21 Iraqis killed, 35 killed in American-Iraqi attack on Sameraa

Medical sources and Iraqi police sources in Sameraa city to the north of Baghdad said that more than 21 persons were killed and 35 injured in an American invasion operation in which took part Iraqi forces in the city during night time. This followed a bloody day in Iraq in which scores were killed including 37 children and other 200 were injured.

The commander of the local police col. Muhammad Fadel said that the attack on Sameraa came at a time when clashes were taking place between the American soldiers and what he called rebels. He said that one of the raids resulted in destroying two houses to the north of al-Qadeseyah quarters.

A statement by the American army said that American and Iraqi forces restored control on police and government buildings in Sameraa early today, Friday morning, after the "rebels endangered security in the city."

CNN that the American forces taking place in the attack are in a contingent operation in Sameraa to exterminate the rebels. The statement gave no details about the fighting, but people in the city said that strong explosions shook the area, noting that air raids took place against the city along two hours and that most of the people resorted to shelters inside the houses.

The American army said that with the help of the Iraqi forces it will be able to maintain control on the premises of "resistance" in Sameraa, Falluja, al-Ramadi and suburb of al-Sader city and Haifa street in Baghdad by the end of the year in order to create the best conditions for making the elections in its due time in January 2005.