4 US Soldiers, 46 Iraqis Killed, Most in Fighting Between Mahdi Army Militia and Iraqi Forces, According to March 29, News Reports

4 US Soldiers, 46 Iraqis Killed, Most in Fighting Between Mahdi Army Militia and Iraqi Forces, According to March 29, News Reports

Yaqen.net reported the following news today that 4 US soldiers were killed today, including two east of Baghdad, by a roadside bomb.

US: 16 Killed in Basra Airstrikes
By KIM GAMEL
Associated Press Writer
Mar 29, 2008, 9:19 PM EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) --

A U.S. warplane strafed snipers in the southern city of Basra, killing at least 16 suspected militants after Iraqi troops came under heavy fire, the American military said.
Iraqi police earlier claimed eight civilians, including two women and a child, had been killed in a predawn airstrike in the Hananiyah neighborhood, a known Shiite militia stronghold.

2 policemen killed, 4 wounded in Karbala
Karbala - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Karbala, Mar 29, (VOI) –

Two policemen were killed and four others wounded on Saturday in clashes with gunmen in Karbala, while a huge amount of weapons and explosives was seized, the Karbala operations and police chief said.
"Security forces had a ferocious battle with armed outlaws. Two policemen were killed and four others wounded in the clashes," Maj. General Raed Shakir Jawdat told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
Jawdat said that Operation Saulat al-Forsan (Knights' Assault) was still going on in Karbala.

"Security forces in Karbala discovered 70 hand-grenades, two mortar cannons of 80 mm caliber, two others of 120 mm caliber, in addition to a number of RPG-7 shells and guns at al-Askari neighborhood (3 km) west of the province, 10 improvised explosive devices (IEDs) ready to be detonated in al-Ghadir neighborhood (3 km) west of the province," Jawdat added.
Eyewitnesses said that clashes between security forces and gunmen erupted in some Karbala neighborhoods since Friday evening.
The clashes have left casualties on both sides, according to eyewitnesses.
The holy Shiite city of Karbala is 130 km south of Baghdad.

MH/AE

Baghdad clashes leave 1017 casualties – medic

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Baghdad, Mar 29, (VOI) –

A total 125 people were killed and 892 others wounded in acts of violence in Baghdad during the past five days, an official medical source said on Saturday.

"Fighting during the past five days in the Iraqi capital left 125 people killed and 892 others wounded according to official figures sent by hospitals in Baghdad to the health ministry," the source, who refused to be named out of security concerns, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
The source did not say how many gunmen and civilians were killed or wounded. "There are no accurate counts of civilians killed and wounded apart from the gunmen," he said.
The Baghdad operations command had announced a curfew in the capital as of 11:00 p.m. on Thursday until Sunday morning in a bid to avoid more clashes that left dozens killed or wounded.

AE

MNF (US) warplane fire leaves 15 casualties in Basra

Basra - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Basra, Mar 29, (VOI) –

Eight people were killed and seven others wounded when a Multi-National Force (US) warplane opened fire in western Basra province on Saturday, according to eyewitnesses.

"An MNF warplane opened fire at the al-Tak area in al-Hussein neighborhood, (8 km) western Basra, killing eight people and injuring seven others, mostly civilians," an eyewitness from al-Hussein told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
A media spokesman for the MNF, replying a question by VOI, said "the aircraft was American, not British."
The oil-rich port city of Basra, Iraq's second largest province, lies 590 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.
Earlier on Saturday eyewitnesses said an Iraqi copter was shot down by gunmen fire late on Friday in Basra.
"An Iraqi copter went down last night when Mahdi Army gunmen fired at it near the Military Hospital in northern Basra," an eyewitness told VOI.
From last Monday, Basra has been the scene of fighting between Iraqi security forces and fighters from the Shi'i cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militias.

AE

2 policemen killed in Mosul souk

Ninewa - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Ninewa, Mar 29, (VOI) –

Two policemen were killed on Saturday by unknown gunmen at one of the outdoor souks (market) in Mosul city, a Ninewa police source said.
"Unidentified armed men attacked two policemen who were shopping in a souk in al-Baladiya neighborhood, central Mosul," the source told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI) on condition of anonymity.
"The gunmen opened fire at the two security men clad in police uniform and escaped to an unknown place," he added.
The source said the two bodies were removed to the city morgue, not revealing their names.
Mosul, the capital city of Ninewa province, is 405 km north of Baghdad.

MH/AE

12 gunmen killed, 50 captured in Karbala

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Karbala, Mar 29, (VOI) –

Twelve gunmen were killed and 50 others captured in armed clashes in different neighborhoods in Karbala, the city's police and operations chief said on Saturday.
"Twelve outlaw gunmen were killed and 50 others captured in a security operation that started on Friday evening," Maj. General Raed Shakir Jawdat told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI), adding his security forces also "seized 25 missile launchers, 60 rifles, five mortars and a large amount of ammunition."
"The operation does not target a specific organization or bloc. Everyone should show cooperation to make Karbala, a holy city, a safer and more stable place," he said.
Eyewitnesses had said clashes renewed between gunmen and police forces in the neighborhoods of al-Aamil, al-Ghadir and al-Aaskari since Friday evening.
The holy Shiite city of Karbala, said to house the tombs of Imams al-Hussein and his brother al-Abbas, both figures are highly revered by Shiite Muslims, lies 130 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

AE

Iraqi soldier killed, 3 wounded south of Baghdad

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Baghdad, Mar 29, (VOI) –

One Iraqi soldier was killed and three others wounded on Saturday when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near their patrol south of Baghdad, eyewitnesses said.
"The IED went off when an Iraqi army patrol was passing on a road that links al-Aamil neighborhood to al-Malhania area, south of Baghdad," an eyewitness told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
"One of the patrol soldiers was killed, and three others wounded in the attack," he said.
Another eyewitness said told VOI that one of the patrol vehicles was "destroyed in the attack."
Security forces rushed to the site while ambulances removed the casualties to nearby hospitals, he said, adding security sources could not be immediately contacted for comments.

MH/AE

12 killed, 42 wounded in Hilla clashes – source

Babel - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Babel, Mar 29, (VOI) –

Twelve people were killed and 42 others wounded in clashes in Babel province since Tuesday, a police source said on Saturday.
"Casualties of four days of fighting in Hilla reached three civilian deaths, including one woman, and nine Iraqi army and police deaths. The wounded were four civilians and 38 security men," the source, who declined to have his name mentioned, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
"Eighty-five gunmen were captured in security operations in the province," said the source, adding three security vehicles were destroyed. He said a large number of gunmen were killed but did not say a number.
"During the clashes, 31 mortar shells and rockets were fired in the direction of the U.S. consulate in the province," the source said.
A curfew is still in effect for the fifth day running in the city that witnessed a cautious lull on Friday evening with the exception of some individual cases of gunshot, including a Katyusha rocket that hit the headquarters of the U.S. embassy in the northern part of Hilla. The local police said results of the Katyusha attack could not be known.
Hilla, the capital of Babel, lies 100 km southwest of Baghdad.

AE

Gunman killed in Baghdad

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Baghdad, Mar 29, (VOI) –

A gunman was killed on Saturday while trying to blow up a bridge in the northern part of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, a security official said.
"A terrorist fired an RPG-7 shell in the direction of the floating bridge of al-Koraiaat but the shell fell near him, killing him instantly," Maj. General Qassem Atta, the official spokesman for the Fardh al-Qanoon (law imposing) security plan, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
Iraq's ministry of reconstruction & housing had built the Koraiaat floating bridge in early March 2007. Designed to link al-Kadhemiya and al-Koraiaat districts in northern Baghdad, the bridge was planned for use by pedestrians only.

AE

Morgue receives 39 bodies of civilians killed in Basra

Basra - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Basra, Mar 29, (VOI) –

The Basra morgue received 39 bodies of civilians killed in clashes since Monday night until the early hours of Saturday, the recent of which were of four civilians from the same family, a morgue source said.

"All the bodies, showing signs of having been shot, are received by the morgue through relatives, who want to obtain death certificates for burial procedures," the source, who declined to give his name, told Aswat al-Iraq – Voices of Iraq – (VOI).
A medic had told VOI on Friday that casualties from the armed clashes in Basra, Iraq's second largest city, 590 km south of the capital Baghdad, who were received by the city hospitals, exceeded 60 deaths and 300 others wounded.

Armed confrontations have been flaring up in Basra since Tuesday between government forces and Sadr's Mahdi Army militias. The clashes coincided with angry upheavals in several southern provinces, where Sadr supporters spread.
The Iraqi authorities declared a curfew in Baghdad and many provinces to avoid further clashes that left dozens killed and wounded during the past couple of days.

Incumbent Premier Nouri al-Maliki had said on Thursday that there would be "no dialogue or concessions for the gunmen," adding in a statement he issued two days ago that the only solution "before them (gunmen) is to hand over their weapons and turn themselves in or face death."
Maliki on Wednesday declared a pardon for the gunmen on condition that they lay down their arms and surrender, giving them a three days' deadline to respond to his statement.

AE

Iraqi copter shot down by gunmen in Basra

Basra - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Basra, Mar 29, (VOI)-

An Iraqi copter was shot down by Gunmen’s fire late on Friday in the southern Iraqi city of Basra, eyewitnesses said.

“An Iraqi copter went down last night when Mahdi army gunmen fired at it near the Military Hospital in northern Basra,” an eyewitness told Asawt al-Iraq- Voices of Iraq- (VOI).
Another eyewitness said that the copter was shot down in an area witnessing “fierce battles” between security forces and Mahdi army militia.

So far the was no word available from Iraqi military on the incident.
From last Monday, Basra, 590 km south of Baghdad, has been a scene of fight between Iraqi security forces and fighters from the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi army. The operation is being overseen by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
SK

15 Iraqi soldiers surrender to Sadr offices- military spokesman

Baghdad - Voices of Iraq
Saturday , 29 /03 /2008 Time 11:24:26
Baghdad, Mar. 29, (VOI) –

15 Iraqi soldiers surrendered to a number of Sadr offices, escaping their duties, said the official spokesperson of Baghdad Operations Command (Fardh Al-Qanoon) on Saturday, while clashes between security forces and Sadr's militiamen continued for 6th day running throughout Iraq .

Major General Qassim Atta also admitted that the civilian spokesperson of Baghdad Operations Command, Tahseen al-Sheikhli, is still abducted, but in a "safe place."
Atta said in a press conference in Baghdad "With the presence of this big number of Iraqi troops, it is possible that some escaping cases may happen."
"The registered number that we have is that 15 soldiers were able to escape," Atta explained.
Reports recently said that a number of Iraqi soldiers and policemen surrendered to Sadr offices in Baghdad and Basra, refusing to battle Mahdi Army gunmen.
Atta considered this issue normal, due to "the presence of more than 50 thousand governmental fighters in Baghdad."
"Commander in Chief, Nouri Al-Maliki, ordered to prosecute those soldiers according to the Military Punishments Law," Atta asserted.
He admitted that the civilian spokesperson of Baghdad Security Plan, Tahseen al-Sheikhli, was kidnapped in Baghdad on Thursday.
"Yes Tahseen al-Sheikhli was kidnapped by unknown gunmen at Al-Ameen Al-Thaniya neighborhood (southeastern Baghdad), and he was taken to unknown place," Atta said.
He added "Al-Sheikhli poned Baghdad Operations Command on Friday, and he is in a safe place, and until now no side announced responsibility for kidnapping him, or put any conditions to release him."
Police sources had announced on Thursday that gunmen raided al-Sheikhli's house in Al-Ameen Al-Thaniya neighborhood, and took him to unknown place.
MH/SK

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