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100 US post-war troop deaths
17/10/2003 13:40 - (SA)
Karbala - Three US soldiers were killed in the central Iraqi city of Karbala overnight, a coalition spokesperson said on Friday, bringing American combat losses to 100 since Washington declared an end to major hostilities on May 1.
Two Iraqi police also died in the attack in the centre of this Shi'ite Muslim holy city, said Major Ralph Manos, public information officer for the multinational force patrolling the Karbala area.
"We confirmed three American MPs (military police) killed and four wounded and we confirmed two Iraqi police killed and five Iraqi police wounded," Manos said.
"At approximately 23:30 (20:30 GMT) yesterday a routine Iraqi patrol, accompanied by coalition troops that happened to be American MPs, was attacked by Iraqis from the rooftops of buildings in the vicinity of the al-Abbas mosque," one of the city's two main shrines, he said.
"The attackers, who are bodyguards of local (Shi'ite) religious leader Mahmud al-Hassani, used RPGs (rocket-propelled grenades) and AK47 rifles. There were about 20 to 30 attackers," he said.
Unprovoked attack
"It was an ambush, an unprovoked attack," said Manos.
The deaths took to 100 the number of US troops killed in action since President George W Bush declared an end to major combat in Iraq on May 1.
Manos said the situation on Friday was "quiet."
"It has been calm since. As of this time there is no report of further firing," he said at 12:45 (0945 GMT) Friday.
Manos said the extent of casualties among the assailants could not immediately be established.
But a member of Hassani's militia in Karbala said that US troops killed several people in the overnight exchange of fire.
Defiance of curfew
The militiaman, who would not give his name, said the militia had been patrolling the impoverished neighbourhood around the al-Abbas mosque in defiance of an overnight curfew imposed following clashes between rival Shi'ite factions on Monday.
Manos said Hassani's forces "were among the parties that took part in the clashes on Monday night among local forces".
"I do not believe that Hassani's forces were on Moqtada Sadr's side," he added, referring to the firebrand Shi'ite cleric whose attempt to seize Karbala's two holiest shrines is blamed for the fighting.
At least one person was killed and two dozen wounded in Monday's clashes.
Karbala, 110km south of Baghdad, is one of Shi'ite Islam's holiest cities and was the scene of a major pilgrimage last week.
- AFP
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