IRAQ: MILITIAS LOYAL TO CLERIC MOQTADA SADR SEIZE OFFCIES OF FACILITIES PROTECTION SERVICES IN NASSIRIYA. SUPPLY TRUCK DESTROYED.

Record ID: 647571

  • Title: IRAQ: MILITIAS LOYAL TO CLERIC MOQTADA SADR SEIZE OFFCIES OF FACILITIES PROTECTION SERVICES IN NASSIRIYA. SUPPLY TRUCK DESTROYED.
  • Date: 15th May 2004
  • Summary: (W3) NASSIRIYA, IRAQ (MAY 15, 2004) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1. WS: EXTERIOR FACILITIES PROTECTION SERVICES BUILDING/ TWO MILITIAMEN OUTSIDE. 0.05 2. WS: MILITIAMEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE FPS BUILDING. (2 SHOTS) 012 3. MV: ARMED MILITIAMEN OUTSIDE THE BUILDING SHOUTING SUPPORT FOR REBEL SHI'ITE CLERIC MOQTADA SADR. 0.33 4. VARIOUS: TRUCK CARRYING SUPPLIES FOR COALITION FORCES ON FIRE. (3 SHOTS) 0.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 30th May 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NASSIRIYA, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA9KKV12ZAZVQZF16Z5DNHWDKLU
  • Story Text: Militias seize a government building in Nassiriya a
    day after attacking the offices of the US-backed Coalition
    Provisional Authority.



    Militias loyal to rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada Sadr
    seized the offices of the Facilities Protection Services
    (FPS), in charge of securing facilities including oil
    refineries and pipelines, in the southern Iraqi town of
    Nassiriya on Saturday (May 15). Witnesses said they were
    still surrounding the building on Sunday (May 16).

    They also attacked a truck carrying supplies for the
    coalition forces in the area and set it alight.

    Italian and US troops are in charge of the area.

    Residents daid Italian troops clashed briefly with
    Mehdi Army guerrillas overnight. A civilian truck convoy
    was attacked nearby and one truck destroyed, they added.

    The driver was injured.

    U.S.-led forces have been trying to drive Sadr's men
    from several cities across Shi'ite southern Iraq over the
    past two weeks, spurred on by growing irritation at Sadr
    among the Shi'ite religious and political establishment.

    The seizure of the FPS building came a day after Sadr's
    militiamen used mortars and rocket-propelled grenades to
    trap about 20 Italians, Americans and Britons overnight in
    the offices of the U.S.-backed Coalition Provisional
    Authority. Two Filipino guards were wounded.

    British troops heading for Amara from their base in
    Basra killed at least 16 Iraqis as the soldiers fought
    their way through three ambushes. Two Britons were wounded.

    The bodies were taken to Najaf for a funeral on Sunday
    and witnesses said they counted 22 bodies.

    Militiamen took control of Nassiriya in April but were
    eventually flushed out by coalition forces.


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