IRAQ: U.S. FORCES SET-UP ROAD BLOCKS AROUND KUFA AND NAJAF TO TIGHTEN SQUEEZE ON THE MEHDI ARMY MILITIA LOYAL TO SHI'ITE CLERIC MOQTADA AL-SADR

Record ID: 648259

  • Title: IRAQ: U.S. FORCES SET-UP ROAD BLOCKS AROUND KUFA AND NAJAF TO TIGHTEN SQUEEZE ON THE MEHDI ARMY MILITIA LOYAL TO SHI'ITE CLERIC MOQTADA AL-SADR
  • Date: 29th April 2004
  • Summary: (U6) KUFA, NEAR NAJAF, IRAQ (APRIL 29, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. WIDE SHOT OF ROUNDABOUT ON THE EASTERN SIDE OF EUPHRATES RIVER (2 SHOTS) 0.06 2. CU: POSTER WITH THE PICTURE OF MOQTADA AL-SADR AMONG OTHER RELIGIOUS LEADERS 0.10 3. VIEWS OF THE AFTERMATH OF THE U.S. ATTACK ON MONDAY NIGHT; DAMAGE TO ROAD AND A BULIDING (2 SHOTS) 0.17 4. SV/CU: PICTURE OF IMAM ALI, A FOUNDER OF SHI'ISM (2 SHOTS) 0.23 5. SHOT OF THE BRIDGE OVER EUPHRATES RIVER 0.27 6. U.S. MILITARY CHECKPOINT 0.30 7. SHOT OF M1 TANK 0.34 8. LINE OF TRAFFIC 0.37 9. WS: IRAQI MEN LINED UP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD 0.41 10. CLOSE UPS OF IRAQI MEN (4 SHOTS) 0.53 11. CU/SV: U.S. SOLDIER SEARCHING IRAQI MAN (2 SHOTS) 1.04 12. U.S. SOLDIER AIMING TOW MISSILE LAUNCHER 1.08 13. IRAQI BOY WAVING AT U.S. SOLDIERS FROM A BUS WINDOW 1.13 14. IRAQI CARS AT THE ROADBLOCK 1.16 15. GROUP OF IRAQIS WAITING TO PASS THROUGH 1.20 16. U.S. SOLDIER SEARCHING IRAQIS 1.25 17. VIEWS OF THE MORTAR ATTACK ON THE ROADBLOCK, U.S. SOLDIERS TAKING POSITIONS, AUDIBLE MORTAR EXPLOSION 1.41 18. SLV/GV: U.S. HELICOPTERS FLYING OVERHEAD (2 SHOTS) 1.51 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 14th May 2004 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: KUFA, NEAR NAJAF, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA33AEOB55CO5HV0YZHSAUF95D3
  • Story Text: U.S. forces set up roadblocks around the Iraqi town
    of Kufa.


    U.S. forces set up roadblocks around Najaf and the
    town of Kufa on Thursday (April 29), tightening a squeeze
    on the Mehdi Army militia loyal to anti-American Shi'ite
    cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who has taken refuge among the holy
    shrines.

    A U.S. army unit backed by tanks and helicopters set up
    a roadblock on the eastern side of Euphrates river near the
    Kufa bridge, at the roundabout that bears marks of Monday's
    (April 26) air strikes that killed dozens of Mehdi army
    militiamen.

    Kufa is Najaf's sister town located about 10 km
    northwest from Najaf. The Imam Ali shrine in Najaf and the
    nearby Kufa mosque are among the holiest sites in Shi'ite
    Islam.

    After about an hour in operation the roadblock came
    under mortar fire from the other bank of the river.

    The U.S. army unit withdrew from the area and returned
    to Camp Duke, about 20 km northwest from Najaf.

    The U.S. Army has about 2000 troops from the 1st
    Armoured Division in the area, most of them staying in the
    desert outside Najaf.

    On Monday about 200 U.S. troops moved into the base on
    the road linking Najaf and Kufa to protect the Coalition
    Provisional Authority headquarters on the territory of the
    base. 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.


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