IRAQ: UNITED STATES FORCES BATTLE INSURGENTS LOYAL TO SHI'ITE CLERIC MUQTADA AL-SADR

Record ID: 337930

  • Title: IRAQ: UNITED STATES FORCES BATTLE INSURGENTS LOYAL TO SHI'ITE CLERIC MUQTADA AL-SADR
  • Date: 8th September 2004
  • Summary: (EU) SADR CITY, BAGHDAD, IRAQ (SEPTEMBER 7, 2004)(REUTERS) 1. SLV PEOPLE IN STREET/ AUDIO OF EXPLOSION/ PEOPLE GIVING THUMBS UP SIGNS 0.10 2. HAS U.S. TANK TOWING BURNING BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLE 0.32 3. SLV BRADLEY FIGHTING VEHICLES 0.51 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 23rd September 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: SADR CITY, BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA66FMC7ZW2ZHU0YFKKS51DKQV4
  • Story Text: U.S. forces battle insurgents loyal to Shiite cleri
    Muqtada al-Sadr in the Baghdad slum of Sadr City.

    Iraqi fighters battled U.S. troops in a Baghdad slum
    district on Tuesday (September 7), raising the death toll
    to 22 Iraqis and one U.S. soldier and threatening to wreck
    a cease-fire called by rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.

    At least 15 Iraqis had been killed in fighting in the
    Shi'ite neighborhood of Sadr City since 9 a.m., the Health
    Ministry said. Sadr City doctor Leith Ghazi said at least
    seven others were killed in overnight fighting.

    Rocket-propelled grenades were fired at soldiers
    several times overnight and on Tuesday in Sadr City and
    several roadside bombs had been detonated in the
    neighborhood, it said. At least five American soldiers were
    wounded.

    U.S. tanks moved into the neighborhood and armored
    personnel carriers and Bradley fighting vehicles were
    deployed at key intersections.

    The fighting in Sadr City erupted when militants
    attacked U.S. forces carrying out routine patrols, killing
    one U.S. soldier.

    The U.S. army said one soldier was killed on Tuesday
    when insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades in Sadr
    City, where U.S. forces and Shi'ite militiamen have clashed
    frequently since Sadr first launched an uprising in April.

    The renewed fighting came after a period of calm in the
    impoverished neighborhood after al-Sadr called on his
    followers last week to observe a cease-fire and announced
    he was going into politics.

    Sadr City was not included in a peace deal which ended
    three weeks of fighting in August in the Shi'ite holy city
    of Najaf between U.S. and Iraqi troops and fighters loyal
    to Sadr, who has become a figurehead for Shi'ite Muslim
    resistance to U.S.-led forces and Iraq's interim
    government.

    Sadr aides said last week the young cleric had called a
    cease-fire and intended to field candidates in elections
    due in January, campaigning on a platform calling for the
    withdrawal of U.S. forces.


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