- Title: IRAQ: U.S. FORCES CONTINUE TO SET UP ROADBLOCKS AROUND THE CITIES OF NAJAF
- Date: 1st May 2004
- Summary: (U7) NAJAF, IRAQ (MAY 1, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV SHOT OF THE ROAD LINKING CITIES OF NAJAF AND KUFA, U.S. SOLDIER DIRECTING TRAFFIC 0.03 2. SV/CU IRAQI MAN BEING SEARCHED (2 SHOTS) 0.10 3. SV U.S. SOLDIER WITH MACHINE GUN 0.13 4. SV IRAQI MEN COMING OUT OF A MINIVAN 0.17 5. SV/CU SHI'ITE CLERIC WEARING BLACK ROBE AND WHITE TURBAN BEING SEARCHED (2 SHOTS) 0.26 6. SLV/MCU IRAQI MEN LINED UP OUTSIDE THEIR CAR (2 SHOTS) 0.35 7. SLV OF THE ROAD 0.39 8. SLV/SV U.S. SOLDIERS SEARCHING THE CAR (2 SHOTS) 0.45 9. LV U.S. TANK ON THE ROAD 0.48 10. MCU IRAQI MAN WEARING WHITE TURBAN BEING SEARCHED AND QUESTIONNED BY A SOLDIER (2 SHOTS) 0.56 11. CU SOLDIER TAKING DOWN NAME 0.59 12. MCU (English) MATTHEW ST. PIERRE, 2ND LIEUTENANT 3D SQUADRON, 2ND ARMOURED CAVALRY REGIMENT: "The purpose of the set-up of traffic control points here is to stop any reinforcements from getting to Mehdi's Army, whether it be people or weapons. We are just trying to cut off his supply lines right now, personnel and weapons, just to make our job easier in the long run." 1.12 13. SV U.S. SOLDIER HOLDING M16 RIFLE 1.16 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 16th May 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: NAJAF, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVACC446A20DEUDHBT9FYO9YLPXF
- Story Text: Near the southern holy city of Najaf, U.S. forces
kept up roadblocks around the Mehdi Army militia loyal to
rebel Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has taken refuge
among shrines sacred to Iraq's long-oppressed Shi'ite
majority.
U.S. forces have continued to set up roadblocks
around the cities of Najaf and Kufa on Saturday (May 1),
tightening a squeeze on the Mehdi Army militia.
"The purpose of the set-up of traffic control points
here is to stop any reinforcements from getting to Mehdi's
Army, whether it be people or weapons. We are just trying
to cut off his supply lines right now, personnel and
weapons, just to make our job easier in the long run," said
Lieutenant Matthew St. Pierre of the 3d Squadron of the 2nd
Armoured Cavalry Regiment, whose unit backed by two M1
tanks, was manning a roadblock outside the U.S. base on a
main road linking Najaf and Kufa on Saturday morning.
Kufa is Najaf's sister town located about 10 km
northwest of Najaf. The Imam Ali shrine in Najaf and the
nearby Kufa mosque are among the holiest sites in Shi'ite
Islam.
The U.S. Army has about 2,000 troops from the 1st
Armoured Division in the area.
U.S. forces have vowed to kill or capture Sadr, who has
spearheaded an uprising against the U.S.-led occupation by
his Mehdi Army militia and supporters. Sadr is wanted in
connection with the murder of a moderate Iraqi cleric.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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