US & Iraqi Forces Attack Mahdi Army Fighters, Counter Attacks on Power Stations, Basra Oil Pipeline, Green Zone, Anti-Maliki Protests in Sadr City

Armed clashes in Sadr City

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Friday , 28 /03 /2008 Time 12:00:27
Baghdad, Mar 27, (VOI) -

Armed clashes broke out on Thursday morning in Sadr City in eastern Baghdad between Mahdi Amrmy gunmen and U.S. forces after the latter closed the city’s inlets and outlets, a leading Sadrist official said.

“The clashes erupted in al-Jameela and Sahet 83 regions in eastern Baghdad, during which light and medium weapons have been used,” Abdul Zahra al-Saweedi told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
“The confrontations flared up after U.S. forces closed inlets leading to the Sadr City,” he explained, noting that the clashes still underway.

He did not mention details on casualties.

No word was available from the U.S. army on the incident.
Eyewitnesses had said that U.S. forces surrounded Sadr city on Tuesday's afternoon, closed all city's inlets and replaced Iraqi forces inside the city.

SH/SR

Armed attacks damage powers stations in central, southern Iraq

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Friday , 28 /03 /2008 Time 12:00:27
Baghdad, Mar 27, (VOI) -

An official source in the Electricity Ministry said that most power stations stopped functioning because of direct armed attacks in central and southern Iraq in the last two days.

“Most power plants and energy lines were attacked in the last two days by mortar shells and machine guns,” the source, who asked for anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

“The attacks damaged several stations and suspended the work there,” he added.
“The Ministry, through the operations room headed by Oil Minister Karim Wahid, continues its work to have the power restored,” he also said.

Baghdad has been suffering under a blackout since yesterday, which disturbed the daily life of citizens.

SH/SR

Gunmen blow up oil pipeline in western Basra

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Friday , 28 /03 /2008 Time 12:00:27
Basra, Mar 27, (VOI) -

Unidentified gunmen blew up an oil pipeline in al-Zubeir region in western Baghdad on Thursday morning, eyewitnesses said.

“At 9 am, unknown gunmen booby-trapped an oil pipeline carrying oil to the Basra port in al-Rashidiya region before detonating it,” an eyewitness told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
“The explosion caused a huge fire in the region, and firefighters rushed to the scene to extinguish the fire,” he added.

Basra is 590 km south of Baghdad.

SH/SR

U.S. base in Baghdad attacked

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Friday , 28 /03 /2008 Time 12:00:27
Baghdad, Mar 27, (VOI) -

Several mortar shells were fired on Thursday morning at a U.S. base in southeastern Baghdad, while sirens continued to wail inside the base, said a police source.

"Five mortar rounds landed on the U.S. al-Rustoumiya base in southeastern Baghdad," the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

"U.S. forces cordoned off several streets near the base while aircrafts scoured the area for the source of the attack," the source explained.

No comment was available from the U.S. side on the incident.

SH/SR

Fortified Green Zone mortared

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Friday , 28 /03 /2008 Time 12:00:27
Baghdad, Mar 27, (VOI) -

Several mortars fell onto the fortified Green Zone, central Baghdad, on Thursday, a number of workers in the Green Zone said, while the U.S. forces confirmed the attack.

“Several mortar rounds fell onto the fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad and billows of black smoke were seen rising from the area with no word on casualties,” the workers, who refused to mention their names, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

For his part, Abdellatif Rayan, media adviser for the Multi-National Force-Iraq, said that “a number of mortar shells landed this morning on the Green Zone.”
“Further information will be revealed later,” he added.

The Green Zone in central Baghdad is the seat of the Iraqi government offices and the compound of the U.S. and British embassies.

SH/SR

Thousands of Sadr City residents stage demo, call for sacking PM

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Friday , 28 /03 /2008 Time 12:00:27
Baghdad, Mar 27, (VOI) -

Thousands of Sadr City residents staged a massive demonstration on Thursday near al-Sadr office, calling to sack Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki after the military operation waged in Basra.

“The to dismiss Nouri al-Maliki,” Sheikh Salman al-Foureji, responsible for al-Sadr’s office in al-Rasafa, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).

“The angry men described the premier as (a cooperator) with the occupation forces,” he added.
“The protesters demands include; sacking al-Maliki, putting an end to the occupation, ending military operations and random arrests throughout Iraq, and releasing detainees,” the Sadrist office explained.
They raised banners condemning the Iraqi government’s policy and chanted slogans against Nouri al-Maliki.

For his part, Sheikh Jaleel al-Lami, from the al-Sadr’s office, told the VOI “the demo came after the recent aggressions against Iraqis throughout the country and we take part in the protest in response to a demand from Shiite Clerick Muqtada al-Sadr, pointing out that the protests will continue “until our demands are met.”

Armed clashes broke out on Thursday morning in Sadr City in eastern Baghdad between gunmen and U.S. forces after the latter closed the city’s inlets and outlets.

Eyewitnesses told the VOI that explosions and clashes have been ongoing in the city since Tuesday.
Basra and a number of southern provinces have been a hotbed of fierce armed confrontations since Monday between security forces and armed groups, during which scores of civilians were killed and wounded.

SH/SR

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