IRAQ: STREETS OF BAGHDAD PATROLLED AS FEAR OF MORE ATTACKS INCREASE ON FIRST NIGHT OF 2004

Record ID: 355691

  • Title: IRAQ: STREETS OF BAGHDAD PATROLLED AS FEAR OF MORE ATTACKS INCREASE ON FIRST NIGHT OF 2004
  • Date: 2nd January 2004
  • Summary: (U7) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JANUARY 1, 2004) (REUTERS) NIGHTSHOTS: 1. SLV IRAQI POLICE IN PLAIN CLOTHES WITH GUNS AT CHECK POINT, STOPPING CARS AND SEARCHING PEOPLE (5 SHOTS) 0.48 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) IRAQI POLICEMAN SARMAD ISAM SAYING "We are increasing our patrols specially during these days, we are in the streets and in all places." 1.04
  • Embargoed: 17th January 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA7EX3SMYEA10I2BJO52FBHPFPY
  • Story Text: The streets of Baghdad are being patrolled as the
    fear of more attacks increases on the first night of 2004.

    Restaurants were empty or closed and U.S. soldiers
    and Iraqi police deployed in the streets on Thursday
    (January 1), following the car bomb that destroyed a
    restaurant in Baghdad.

    The New Year's eve attack in the Nabil restaurant on
    Wednesday (December 31) killed up to eight people and
    wounded more than 30, U.S. military investigators said on
    Thursday (January 1) as they hunted for clues among the
    rubble.

    U.S.-led coalition forces also increased patrols in the
    Iraqi capital due to fears that insurgents may choose the
    New Year period to launch more attacks against coalition
    forces.

    Iraqi police who set check points in the main roads
    said that they are on high alert for possible attacks.

    "We are increasing our patrols specially during these
    days, we are in the streets and in all places," Sarmad Isam
    from the Iraqi police said.

    The bomb devastated the upmarket Nabil restaurant,
    popular with foreigners and wealthy Iraqis, around two and
    a half hours before midnight, scattering debris and wrecked
    cars across the street outside and sparking a blaze.

    The dead were all Iraqis and the wounded included three
    foreign journalists with the Los Angeles Times.

    Other upmarket restaurants were mostly empty on
    Thursday but were still being guarded by armed men for fear
    of attack.

    One of restaurant's owners said that his restaurant was
    usually full of people but because of the New Year's eve
    blast no one ventured to go out to dinner.

    Owners of many upmarket Baghdad restaurants said they
    were considering stopping the sale of wine and liquor,
    hoping this would reduce the number of foreigners coming in
    and avoid attracting the attention of the guerrillas.

    Although overwhelmingly Muslim, there are only minimal
    restrictions on the sale and consumption of liquor in Iraq.

    Most streets in the Iraqi capital were empty at 8 pm
    local time.

    Washington blames Saddam Hussein supporters and foreign
    Islamic militants for most attacks in Iraq. Saddam was
    captured by U.S. forces on December 13.

    Since the invasion of Iraq in March, 327 U.S. troops
    have been killed action, 212 of them victims of guerrilla
    attacks after May 1, when Washington declared major combat
    war over.


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