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Sadr Militia Arms Depot Explodes
Kufa mosque, a stronghold of radical Iraqi cleric Moqtada al Sadr, was rocked by explosions Monday when a nearby arms dump blew up and at least three people were killed, witnesses and hospital sources said. A further 12 people were wounded but there were conflicting reports on the identities of the casualties. Doctor Ali al-Tufaili at Kufa General Hospital said they were civilians, while witnesses and other doctors said the victims were members of Sadr's Mehdi Army militia. | I'll bet every casualty is a civilian casualty to Doc Ali. |
Witnesses said there was slight fire damage to the mosque. Militiamen loyal to Sadr prevented reporters from getting close to the arms depot. | "Arms depot? What arms depot, this is a mosque!" |
Sadr launched an uprising two months ago and his militia fought skirmishes with occupying troops in Shi'ite towns in central and southern Iraq. But last week the Shi'ite cleric ordered his militiamen in Kufa and the nearby holy city of Najaf to disarm. In return, the U.S. military said it was suspending offensive operations against Sadr. In a statement, the U.S. army said its forces were not operating in the area at the time of the explosion. It said there was no information on casualties.
Posted by: Steve 2004-06-07 |
