BAGHDAD - Gunmen clashed on Saturday with troops guarding one of the first forward bases set up by US and Iraqi troops in downtown Baghdad as part of their new joint operation to pacify the city. The ‘combat outpost’ in the Adhamiyah district came under sustained fire for almost an hour and American troops responded with rifle and machinegun fire, an AFP photographer at the base reported.Following the clash, US soldiers in armoured vehicles headed out to search the area and attempt to track down the attackers. There were no initial reports of casualties among US and Iraqi forces.
An Iraqi defence official said fighting had broken out after a joint Iraqi-US force raided a suspected stronghold of an illegal armed group and that gunbattles were continuing almost two hours later, after nightfall. ‘There was an exchange of fire just after 5:00 pm (1400 GMT) for only 10 minutes after the raid, then the gunmen ran away,’ he said.
‘Later, at 5:50 pm (1450 GMT) gunmen attacked the outpost in Adhamiyah,’ he said, speaking on condition of anonymity. ‘The shooting went on for at least 40 minutes and the fighting is continuing. At least two civilians have been wounded,’ he added.