Mosques, Green Zone attacked despite Iraq curfew

[ProSense]

Mosques, Green Zone attacked despite Iraq curfew

By Paul Tait
42 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Three Sunni Muslim mosques were torched and mortar bombs hit Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone on Thursday, police said, despite curfews imposed after suspected al Qaeda militants hit a revered Shi'ite shrine.

Thousands of Iraqi and U.S. soldiers were on the streets of Baghdad and other cities trying to enforce the curfews that were imposed after Wednesday's bombing, blamed on al Qaeda, felled the two golden minarets of Samarra's al-Askari mosque.

Police said more than a dozen mortar rounds hit the Green Zone, home to Iraq's parliament and the U.S. embassy, causing some casualties, but they had no further details. Smoke could be seen billowing into the sky from several areas.

A resident at the Rashid Hotel in the Green Zone said one mortar round fell in the hotel courtyard, killing one employee and wounding several. The hotel is home to some members of parliament, journalists and foreign contractors.

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Despite the curfews, thousands of supporters of fiery Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr took to the streets of Baghdad's sprawling Sadr City slum in noisy but peaceful protests. Protests were also staged in southern Najaf and Basra.

"Out, out occupiers," the Sadr City protesters chanted, in reference to U.S. forces. Sadr has repeatedly called on the government to set a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal.

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[ProSense]

1. Kick! n/t

[PurityOfEssence]

2. Cut a few more bridges and it'll really get nasty

The only thing that keeps us from being run out of the place is that the Shiites and the Sunnis hate each other more than they do us. Perhaps they view our presence as a nice stabilizing influence under which they can stomp each other with impunity.

Plan as the various factions may, things tend to get out of control.

We suck.

Good luck, Iraqi civilians; may all your tomorrows actually be tomorrows.