- Title: IRAQ: THOUSANDS OF REFUGEES DEMONSTRATE TO RETURN BACK TO THE CITY OF FALLUJA
- Date: 17th December 2004
- Summary: (W5) KARMA CITY, IRAQ (DECEMBER 17, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. TV OF PEOPLE DEMONSTRATING 0.08 2. SLV/SV PEOPLE CARRYING BANNER READING "YOU THE OCCUPIERS, GO OUTSIDE OF OUR CITY" (2 SHOTS) 0.20 3. CU TO BANNER READING (ENGLISH) "THE PEOPLE OF RESISTANT FALLUJA RECOMMEND THAT AMERICAN OCCUPATION FORCES TO LEAVE FROM THE CITY TO LIVE IN SAFETY AND P
- Embargoed: 1st January 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: FALLUJA, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA54LVRNFHTPWENF33RMZ4ZC3SI
- Story Text: Thousands of refugees demonstrated to return back to
the city of Falluja.
Thousands of refugees demonstrated in the city of
Karma 10 kilometres northwest of Falluja on Friday
(December 17, 2004), demanding U.S. forces let them return to
their homes and lands which they left when a U.S. led
offensive devastated their home city.
The demonstrators took to the streets after the Friday
prayers. They carried banners and demanded U.S. forces
withdraw from the city of Falluja.
"We demand that the city of Falluja to be opened again
for those families who left their homes and give them a
chance to live there peacefully", Sheikh Muhammed Abdul
Sattar said.
Families who fled the U.S.-led assault on Falluja over
a month ago could start returning to some parts of the
Iraqi city as early as Friday, Falluja's mayor Mahmoud
Ibrahim said. He said that U.S. forces would allow families
to return to the Andalous area starting on Friday under a
10-day timetable, referring to a neighbourhood in the
southwest of Falluja.
There was no immediate evidence of anyone returning.
More than 200,000 people have yet to go home and many
are in need of aid as night temperatures in Iraq sink
toward freezing. U.S. forces have so far prevented refugees
from returning, saying basic facilities must be restored
first.
The city has been without power or water since the
attack, which also destroyed hundreds of buildings and left
power and communication lines severed and lying in the
streets.
Iraq's interim government said on Thursday civilians
would be allowed to start returning home next week.
Iraqi ministers are due to meet tribal leaders and
other notables from Sunni Muslim Falluja on Sunday to
finalise the plans for scattered residents to filter back.
The return of civilians has been delayed while the city is cleared
of unexploded ordnance left by the attack and
sporadic fighting has stalled the beginning of
reconstruction.
The government has promised to compensate homeowners
for damage to their properties from the attack launched on
November 8.
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