IRAQ: Streets of the western town of Haditha are almost deserted as U.S. military offensive continues for sixth day. Another car bomb hits Baghdad.

Record ID: 354496

  • Title: IRAQ: Streets of the western town of Haditha are almost deserted as U.S. military offensive continues for sixth day. Another car bomb hits Baghdad.
  • Date: 10th October 2005
  • Summary: HADITHA, WEST OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 9, 2005)(REUTERS) WIDE SHOT ZOOM IN BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM BOMBED BUILDING; MORE OF SMOKE COVERING SKY AND CRACKLES OF GUNFIRE; HOUSE ON FIRE AFTER BEING BOMBED BY U.S. FORCES AV U.S. HELICOPTER FLYING OVER TOWN; COLUMN OF WHITE SMOKE RISING INTO SKY; COLUMN OF WHITE SMOKE
  • Embargoed: 25th October 2005 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVA8VAFVZY8P3ETG5WNALLVLI3WD
  • Story Text: An American soldier was killed when a suicide car bomb detonated outside a checkpoint near the International Zone on October 10, 2005. Initial reports indicate that one Iraqi Army soldier, an interpreter and an Iraqi civilian wounded in the attack were evacuated to a military hospital for treatment. The name of the deceased U.S. Soldier is being withheld pending notification of next of kin. The attack is under investigation. The car bomb exploded and wounded at least four policemen on duty at the checkpoint, according to a U.S. officer on the scene. "A car bomb came up, the IPs (Iraqi Police) visually identified it, engaged it," said U.S. Major John Paggani. "The vehicle detonated before it could do catastrophic harm to the IPs. There were about three or four IPs wounded, they were all evacuated and apparently now the Iraqi Police is cleaning up the scene to make it safe for the populus to use it again." Insurgents continued their attacks as a vital referendum to accept a constitution is only five days away. The Iraqi Interior ministry announced tight security measures for the period of the referendum to let Iraqis vote safely. Coalition troops launched a major offensive to sweep out Sunni insurgents last week in the western Euphrates valley of the country. Haditha looked like a ghost town on Monday (October 10) following six days of intensive U.S.-led military operations to hunt down insurgents in the town. The streets were deserted and shops closed down as most of the people fled their homes ahead of the start of an offensive, Operation River Gate. Residents in the district, which is mainly inhabited by Sunni Muslims opposed to the U.S.-backed government, said people had been fleeing from Haditha and the nearby towns of Haqlaniyah and Barwana, following repeated air strikes which left homes ablaze.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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