IRAQ: MEHDI FIGHTERS TAKE CONTROL OF AMARA, GUNBATTLES IN KUT.

Record ID: 376261

  • Title: IRAQ: MEHDI FIGHTERS TAKE CONTROL OF AMARA, GUNBATTLES IN KUT.
  • Date: 11th August 2004
  • Summary: (W5) KUT, IRAQ (AUGUST 11, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. MV/GV: MEHDI FIGHTERS IN STREET; AUDIO OF GUNFIRE, SHOUTING (2 SHOTS) 0.05 2. GV/ZOOM/PAN: MEHDI ARMY FIGHTER BY CORNER SHOP; MORE OF MEHDI ARMY IN STREETS, SHOOTING, SHOUTING AND AUDIO OF GUNFIRE; MEHDI ARMY SHOOTING FROM AROUND CORNER; MEHDI ARMY SHELTERING BY SHOP (4 SHOTS) 0.33 3.
  • Embargoed: 26th August 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KUT, AMARA, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVAB6KLQT0CQOOZF9MYNY8C6Z4R8
  • Story Text: Gunbattles in Kut, 190 km south east of Baghdad,
    between Mehdi army and Iraqi government forces; Mehdi army
    control Amara.



    Fierce clashes broke out in Kut on Wednesday (August 11)
    between militias loyal to hardline Shi'ite cleric
    Moqtada al-Sadr and Iraqi police and national guard.

    Authorities said Sadr supporters, known as the Mehdi
    army, had attacked the governorate and police station.

    Heavy gunfire sounded through the streets as the
    militias fired RPGs and automatic weapons.

    In Amara, 350 km south east of Baghdad, the Mehdi army
    appeared to be in control of the city centre following
    clashes with British troops over the past few days.

    The fighters directed traffic and searched cars along
    the main roads.

    Mehdi army militias occupied Iraqi police stations in
    the city centre on Friday (August 6). There was little
    resistance from local Iraqi police. British troops then
    retook control on Saturday and Iraqi police could be seen
    patrolling the streets.

    Clashes have continued since. At least 10 insurgents
    were killed in a British offensive on Tuesday night and two
    British soldiers slightly wounded. Scores of Iraqis have
    been wounded.

    British troops have been fighting the Mehdi militia
    across Shi'ite-dominated southern Iraq since Thursday
    (August 6) -- in Basra and Nassiriya as well as Amara.

    British forces have responsibility for most of southern Iraq.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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