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U.S. Forces, Militants Clash at Iraq Mosque
About time! This is good news. And on a FridayBAGHDAD, Iraq U.S. forces fired tank rounds at a mosque in the restive city of Ramadi Friday and exchanged heavy fire with militants inside, the U.S. command said, as Iraqis looted a base in the south after it was vacated by British troops. One U.S. soldier was lightly wounded and three people were reportedly killed inside the mosque, while five people were killed elsewhere in Iraq in a relatively peaceful day in the country wracked by sectarian and Sunni insurgency violence. Militants inside the Al Qadir Al Kilami mosque fired small arms, machine guns and rocket propelled grenades at U.S. forces, a statement by the U.S. command said. They also hurled hand grenades and a bomb, it said. American soldiers returned fire at first, and finally unleashed several rounds from M1 tanks into the mosque, said the statement. "The mosque suffered serious structural damage to the dome and minaret," it said. It said the attack occurred at about 12.30 p.m., a little before Friday prayers were due to start. It was not known if any worshippers were already inside. Ramadi police reported that three people were killed and 23 people were wounded, but it was not possible to independently confirm the information. The U.S. statement said enemy and civilian casualties were unknown, but one soldier was injured who later returned to duty. Posted by: Sherry 2006-08-25 |
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