IRAQ: U.S. FORCES CLASH WITH MILITIAMEN IN KERBALA, NEW IRAQI FORCE TAKE OVER IN FALLUJA.

Record ID: 647005

  • Title: IRAQ: U.S. FORCES CLASH WITH MILITIAMEN IN KERBALA, NEW IRAQI FORCE TAKE OVER IN FALLUJA.
  • Date: 5th May 2004
  • Summary: (W4) FALLUJA, IRAQ (MAY 5, 2004)(REUTERS) 1. GV/CU/GV/MV: PERSONNEL OF NEW IRAQI FORCE TAKING POSITION IN GOLAN DISTRICT; CLOSE-UP OF IRAQI FLAG; NEW IRAQI FORCE ON STREET (6 SHOTS) 0.34 2. MV: GENERAL ABDULLAH MOHEMMED AL-MUHAMMADI, INSTRUCTING OFFICER 0.39 3. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) GENERAL ABDULLAH MOHEMMED AL-MUHAMMADI, INSTRUCTING OFFICER, SAYING "We have now completed the second stage of deployment in the eastern part of Falluja and we are now taking position on the road to Golan district that leads to Saqlawiya. The road is open and the people are happy and security and stability prevail in the city and we hope, God willing, that we will complete other stages according to the plan." 1.05 4. GV: NEW IRAQI FORCE ON STREET 1.11 5. CU: SIGN READING "FALLUJA BRIGADE. IRAQI CIVIL DEFENCE CORPS" ON THE ENTRANCE TO HEADQUARTERS OF NEW IRAQI FORCE 1.17 6. GV/MV: IRAQI POLICE DIRECTING TRAFFIC (3 SHOTS) 1.34 (W4) KERBALA, IRAQ (MAY 5, 2004)(REUTERS) ***QUALITY AS INCOMING*** 7. GV/MV/CU: EXTERIOR OF OFFICE OF MUHAMMED BAQIR AL-SADR, FATHER OF CLERIC MOQTADA AL-SADR; SIGN READING "SADR CULTURAL FOUNDATION" (3 SHOTS) 1.52 8. MV/GV/CU: MAN STANDING IN RUBBLE; DAMAGED BUILDING; GLASS ON GROUND; DAMAGED BUILDING OF OFFICE; TWISTED METAL AND BROKEN BRICKS ON GROUND (4 SHOTS) 2.20 9. CU/ZOOM OUT/PAN/GV: ARMED MAN WALKING INTO DAMAGED BUILDING 2.30 10. CU/PAN/GV: TWISTED METAL HANGING FROM CEILING 2.40 11. MV/PAN/GV: MASKED GUNMAN PAN TO STREET 2.49 12. GV/MV: WRECKAGE OF CARS IN STREET; PEOPLE GATHERING ROUND WRECKAGE OF CAR; PEOPLE NEAR DAMAGED TRUCK (4 SHOTS) 3.12 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 20th May 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: FALLUJA AND KERBALA, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVADJFAPPZEO54G2PYJLC6I9ZA92
  • Story Text: New Iraqi force takes over responsibility for part
    of Falluja. Three killed in clashes between U.S. forces and
    militiamen in holy city of Kerbala.



    U.S. Marines lifted a security cordon around the
    volatile northwest of the Iraqi city of Falluja on
    Wednesday (May 5) as the new Iraqi force took over
    responsibility in the city. In the holy city of Kerbala,
    U.S.-led forces battled Iraqi Shi'ite Muslim militiamen
    loyal to rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr early on Wednesday,
    killing three fighters, witnesses and hospital sources said.

    U.S. Marines said they planned to allow traffic to the
    city of Falluja in for the first time in a month.

    The new Iraqi force took positions on the eastern part
    of the city and on the road leading to the Golan district
    as part of a plan approved by the Marines to restore
    security to the embattled city.

    "We have now completed the second stage of deployment
    in the eastern part of Falluja and we are now taking
    position on the road to Golan district that leads to
    Saqlawiya. The road is open and the people are happy and
    security and stability prevail in the city and we hope, God
    willing, that we will complete other stages according to
    the plan," said General Abdulallah al-Muhamadi.

    The cordon had previously been tightly enforced in the
    hope of trapping guerrillas inside the Golan district, a hotbed of
    resi
    stance to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.

    The Marines are being replaced by an Iraqi force that
    is largely made up of former soldiers. The new brigade has
    taken up positions in the south of Falluja and is expected
    to replace Marines in the north and start patrols in the
    city soon.

    In Kerbala, fighting erupted shortly after midnight
    when Mehdi Army militiamen loyal to Sadr fired mortar
    bombs, rocket-propelled grenades and machineguns at U.S.

    and Bulgarian positions in the town 110 km (70 miles)
    southwest of Baghdad.

    Soldiers returned fire and the exchanges lasted until
    dawn, witnesses said. Hospital sources said three gunmen
    were killed and nine wounded, including three in serious
    condition.

    The fighting left the office of Muhammed Baqir al-Sadr,
    father of cleric Moqtada al-Sadr heavily damaged with walls
    pockmarked with bullet holes and twisted metal hanging from
    the ceiling of the room
    A number of cars were wrecked in the firefight.

    There was no immediate comment from the U.S. military,
    but witnesses said U.S. aircraft dropped Arabic-language
    leaflets urging militiamen to surrender.


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