[Marxism] Fallujah returnees protest; another GI dies in Anbar Province (Fallujah)

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Aljazeera.net

Fresh fighting erupts around Baghdad
by
Saturday 01 January 2005 9:46 AM GMT


Fighting between US forces and armed groups has broken out in and around
the Iraqi capital, intensifying on the road leading to Baghdad airport.

Speaking to Aljazeera from Baghdad on Saturday, Iraqi journalist Ziyad
al-Samarrai said a fierce firefight broke out just before midnight and
continued until early morning.


"In Baghdad's Haifa Street, a gun battle had erupted where about 40 US
military vehicles and 200 soldiers were deployed, closing all roads," he
said.


"The area near Baghdad's international airport also came under fire when
explosions rocked the area on Saturday morning."


A US military statement said on Saturday. "One Task Force Baghdad
soldier was killed and another injured by an improvised explosive device
at approximately 3.45pm (1245 GMT) on 1 January, north of the Iraqi
capital."


The death brings US losses since last year's invasion to 1326, based on
a Pentagon tally.

[snip]

Protests held


Also on Saturday, according to Iraqi journalist Fadil al-Badrani,
thousands of Falluja residents began to gather to protest against US
policy in the ruined city.


In addition to the huge amount of destruction, al-Badrani said citizens
were angry about difficulties in entering the city.


"According to the protesters, dozens of houses were destroyed or burned
by US forces after the citizens had returned to the city," al-Badrani
said.


"A citizen said he found his house partially damaged when he returned to
the city. However, US forces completely destroyed it, along with many
other houses, during the last four days."


Specific demands


Many Fallujans also complained of constantly having to face US forces
pointing their weapons at them, al-Badrani said.


He said the crowds were demanding that US forces withdraw immediately,
allow media teams into the city to document the destruction, compensate
citizens for the loss of their homes, and help in reconstruction of the
city.


Others expressed health concerns, particularly over decaying corpses and
polluted water.


Elsewhere, US helicopters bombed an area near a US military base north
of Tikrit city, after the base had come under mortar fire.

The US army said in a statement that it has launched a new attack on
southern Baghdad, including Iskandariya, Mahmudiya, Latifiya and
Yusufiya areas.


One fighter has so far been killed and nine others arrested during this
operation, the statement added.


In another statement, the military said a marine was killed in Iraq's
western province of Anbar late on Friday


Aljazeera + Agencies


http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/2969BFDD-CC68-4B9C-BDF5-EFF6075E1
B71.htm




_______________________________________________
Marxism mailing list
Marxism@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism