US. Kills Dozens of Insurgents Near Najaf.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - US. Kills Dozens of Insurgents Near Najaf.

Posted: 5/6/2004 12:58:40 PM EDT

U.S. Kills Dozens of Insurgents Near Najaf
U.S. Soldier, Five Iraqis Die in Baghdad Suicide Blast
By DENIS D. GRAY, AP

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NAJAF, Iraq (May 6) - The United States intensified pressure on a radical cleric Thursday, seizing the governor's office from his fighters in Najaf and killing an estimated 40 insurgents in battles east of the holy city, a U.S. official said.

In Baghdad, a suicide attacker detonated a car bomb outside the so-called Green Zone that houses the U.S. headquarters in Baghdad, killing five Iraqi civilians and a U.S. soldier.

The soldiers took control of the building in Najaf without a fight, but heavy gunfire was heard after they moved in and smoke rose over the city. Motorists fled the area through deserted streets, honking their horns. Fighters loyal to cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had controlled the building since they launched their rebellion April 4.

Fighting east of Najaf killed an estimated 40 militiamen, said Capt. Roger Maynulet, commander of a tank company with the Army's 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.

Chief U.S. administrator L. Paul Bremer announced the appointment of a new governor for Najaf province as part of the campaign to crack down on al-Sadr's militiamen.

Also Thursday, a videotape of a blindfolded man described as an Iraqi-American being held hostage in Iraq was shown on an Arab TV station. On the tape, the man pleaded for help

Bombing Shakes Green Zone

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Blast Kills Seven

The Baghdad car bomb injured 25 people, including two American soldiers. The bomb, hidden inside an orange-and-white taxi, exploded outside a 3-foot-high concrete blast wall protecting a U.S. checkpoint.

The U.S. soldier who died in the Baghdad car bombing was the 21st U.S. serviceman killed in Iraq in May. The injured included two U.S. soldiers and three Iraqi policemen, the U.S. military said.

The suicide bomber also died in the attack, the military said.

Hours later, a roadside bomb exploded on Saadoun Street, a busy commercial avenue on the east side of the Tigris River near the Palestine and Sheraton hotels. Two Iraqis were injured.

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Also Thursday, the U.S. command said that two U.S. soldiers were killed and two were wounded when a roadside bomb exploded in Baghdad. A statement said the explosion occurred just before midnight Wednesday but gave no further details.

The attacks came as U.S.-led forces increased pressure on al-Sadr. In the past two days, an estimated 76 militiamen loyal to him have been killed in gunbattles and raids, including Thursday's fighting.

''I think we are going to gain momentum from now on,'' said Lt. Michael Watson, a platoon leader with the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment in Najaf.

In Najaf, soldiers moved into the area of the governor's office from four directions and took control of the building without a fight. Afterward, gunfire could be heard and U.S. helicopters were seen flying low over parts of the city.

''What we're doing is conducting operations where we see fit so that as we develop a target through intelligence, we'll go out to that target and do a precision operation and then move back out, because we really are knowledgeable about the sensitivities of the holy city,'' Army Lt. Col. Pat White told CNN.

Al-Sadr's forces last month seized government buildings and police stations in southern cities including Najaf and Kufa.

In Baghdad's Sadr city, an overwhelmingly Shiite Muslim enclave, militiamen ambushed four U.S. patrols. Ten attackers were killed in retaliatory gunfire, a U.S. officer said, speaking on condition of anonymity. There were no reports of U.S. casualties.

Moderate Shiites tried to persuade al-Sadr to back away from his confrontation with the United States - a reflection of their growing concern.

In Baghdad, Bremer announced the appointment of Adnan al-Zurufi as governor of Najaf province. Bremer said the ''the difficulty and suffering of the people'' of the region ''cannot continue.''

Special U.N. envoy Lakhdar Brahimi arrived in the capital for discussions aimed at forming a transitional government to take power June 30.

On Jan. 17, a suicide truck bombing at a Green Zone gate in central Baghdad killed 24 people and wounded about 120. Three U.S. civilians and three U.S. soldiers were among the injured in the bombing at what U.S. soldiers call the ''Assassins' Gate,'' an ornate entrance leading to Saddam Hussein's former Republican Palace compound, now the headquarters of the U.S.-led occupation.

Also Thursday, gunmen assassinated the head of the local Agriculture Department in the northern city of Kirkuk in a drive-by shooting that also killed his driver and wounded his wife, police said.

Najib Mohammed, a Kurd, was riding in his car when the gunmen opened fire from another vehicle, Gen. Sherko Shakir said. Insurgents frequently target officials working for the government, accusing them of collaborating with Americans.

The blindfolded man shown on the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya channel spoke in English and identified himself as Aban Elias of Denver.

''I am a civil engineer working here in Baghdad,'' he said, adding that he worked for the Pentagon.

Elias, shown in a 20-second segment, appealed to Islamic associations to work for his release.

''I was kidnapped and I call upon Muslim organizations to interfere to release me,'' Elias said.

With the tape came a statement from a previously unknown group calling itself ''The Islamic Rage Brigade.'' The group said Elias was kidnapped on May 3. It made no demands.

05-06-04 11:17 EDT

Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Posted: 5/6/2004 1:00:11 PM EDT

[#1]

It's ok as long as they didn't take any degrading pictures of them first.

Posted: 5/6/2004 1:00:13 PM EDT

[#2]

Oh no , now we have done it, the Arab world will be inflamed and turn against us.

Posted: 5/6/2004 1:00:57 PM EDT

[#3]

Quoted:
U.S. Kills Dozens of Insurgents Near Najaf
U.S. Soldier, Five Iraqis Die in Baghdad Suicide Blast
By DENIS D. GRAY, AP

Click Here
Broadband Only

NAJAF, Iraq (May 6) - The United States intensified pressure on a radical cleric Thursday, seizing the governor's office from his fighters in Najaf and killing an estimated 40 insurgents in battles east of the holy city, a U.S. official said.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - US. Kills Dozens of Insurgents Near Najaf.

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