Several dead in US attack on Sadr City (nearly 2 dozen killed)

[Aidoneus]

Army spokesman, Major Philip Smith: you are the fucking terrorist, bomb yourself then.

Interesting note Re:Sistani about that other matter. Weak words to use, but that he speaks on it at all, and more importantly takes Sayyid Muqtada's side, is the real point of interest that should not be ignored by those the statement is directed against.

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Several dead in US attack on Sadr City
Wednesday 22 September 2004

US tanks have raided the Baghdad area of Sadr City with aircraft bombing the area and helicopters flying low overhead, killing 22 Iraqis.

The bombings which began at around 2100 GMT on Tuesday, left 78 injured, medical sources told Aljazeera.

Clashes erupted between US forces and al-Mahdi Army fighters during the US raid and a US aircraft raked one area with heavy fire.

"Right now we are in there. We are fighting the terrorists so we can re- establish civil-military operations and get back to the reconstruction projects that the people of Sadr City want," said army spokesman Major Philip Smith.

One local resident said he counted up to two dozen US tanks and other armoured vehicles in the early hours of Wednesday on the streets in the western part of Sadr City.

--snip--

Al-Sistani condemnation

Iraq's most influential Shia cleric has said a raid by US forces on the office of Muqtada al-Sadr in Najaf has contravened a peace deal negotiated last month to end fighting in the city.

Ayat Allah Ali al-Sistani's office said the raid on al-Sadr's office and the jailing of some of his followers this week, was inconsistent with the deal between the US-backed Iraqi government and al-Sadr.

--snip--

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