Iraq prepares for Baghdad exodus(The gov't has distributed leaflets in 2 key districts of Sadr City)

maddezmom

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Wed May-07-08 08:38 AM
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Iraq prepares for Baghdad exodus(The gov't has distributed leaflets in 2 key districts of Sadr City)

Edited on Wed May-07-08 08:43 AM by maddezmom

Source: BBC

Most of those killed in the past few weeks in Sadr City have been civilians

The authorities in Baghdad say they are preparing for an exodus of thousands of people from eastern parts of the city.

Fighting between government and US troops on one side, and Shia militia on the other, has intensified recently.

Two football stadiums are on stand-by to receive residents from two neighbourhoods in the Sadr City area.

The government has warned of an imminent push to clear the areas of members of the Mehdi Army, loyal to the anti-American cleric, Moqtada Sadr.

In the last seven weeks around 1,000 people have died, and more than 2,500 others have been injured, most of them civilians.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7387960.stm

Residents in Baghdad fleeing militia stronghold
May 7, 2008
BY SELCAN HACAOGLU The Associated Press
BAGHDAD -- A rocket slammed into Baghdad's city hall and another hit a downtown park Tuesday as more frightened civilians fled a Shiite militia stronghold where U.S.-led forces are locked in fierce street battles.

The American push in the Sadr City district -- launched after an Iraqi government crackdown on armed Shiite groups began in late March -- is trying to weaken the militia grip in a key corner of Baghdad and disrupt rocket and mortar strikes on the U.S.-protected Green Zone.

But fresh salvos of rockets from militants arced over the city, wounding at least 16 people and drawing U.S. retaliation that escalated civilian panic and flight to safer areas.

One rocket -- apparently aimed at the Green Zone -- blasted the nearby city hall. Three 122 mm rockets hit parts of central Baghdad, including destroying some playground equipment in a park. An Iraqi police station was damaged by a rocket that failed to detonate, the U.S. military said.

U.S. forcing used airstrikes and tank fire against suspected militia positions after a rocket attack late Monday in Sadr City, the military said. At least six people were killed.

more:http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/935306,3_1_EL07_A8IRAQ_S1.article

Eight die in US airstrike on Baghdad

At least eight people were killed and 13 injured when US aircraft bombed positions of the Mahdi Army militia in Sadr City in east Baghdad on Wednesday, according to witnesses.

Fresh clashes between the Shi'ite Mahdi Army and US forces broke out Tuesday evening, the witnesses said.

Iraqi special forces backed by US troops conducted operations in the area "to reduce special groups' criminal activity," the US military said in a statement.

Special groups is the term the military used to describe Iranian-backed Shi'ite militiamen.

Seven suspected militiamen were arrested during the operation on Tuesday.

Mosques in Sadr City have been reportedly used "as cover for criminal activity," according to the

more:http://au.news.yahoo.com/080507/2/16rkn.html