P
Patriot Games
Guest
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,310456,00.html
Al-Maliki Says Violence in Baghdad Down Dramatically
Sunday, November 11, 2007
BAGHDAD - The number of bombings and suicide attacks has dropped
dramatically in the Iraqi capital, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said
Sunday. Meanwhile, a roadside bomb missed a U.S. convoy in eastern Baghdad,
killing a 12-year-old girl and wounding four other Iraqis, police said.
Al-Maliki, a Shiite Muslim, told reporters that "terrorist acts" including
car bombings and suicide attacks have dropped by 77 percent from last year's
high, a sign that Sunni-Shiite violence "is closed now."
"When the sectarian strife is over, then I will not fear the gangs who are
running between the provinces," al-Maliki said, an apparent reference to Al
Qaeda and other Sunni religious extremists that have been driven from the
capital.
"The majority of these terrorists are fleeing to nearby countries, and I
warned our brothers in the Islamic and Arab countries to be aware in order
that they not harm these countries," he said.
Al-Maliki said he was considering an amnesty for those "who were lured or
committed some crimes," although he added that the move would not include
those "convicted of killings or bombings."
The upbeat statements reflected those of U.S. military officials. Last week,
the commander of U.S. troops in Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil, said bombings
and killings had been declining steadily since a spike last June and "it
continues to come down every month."
Despite security improvements, violence is continuing, although at a lower
level than last year at the height of the sectarian slaughter and before the
arrival of nearly 30,000 U.S. reinforcements sent to Iraq to stem the
killings.
U.S. soldiers sealed off part of the Baladiyat area after a roadside bomb
exploded about 8:45 a.m. as an American convoy was passing through the
mostly Shiite district, a policeman said on condition of anonymity because
he was not authorized to release the information.
The Iraqi victims were all civilians who happened to be in the area when the
explosion occurred, he said. There were no reports of American casualties.
In western Baghdad, assailants in a speeding car hurled a hand grenade at a
minibus traveling Sunday between the Bab al-Muadham bus terminal to Baiyaa,
a flashpoint neighborhood where Shiite militiamen drove away many Sunnis
this year.
Three minibus passengers were seriously wounded, a policeman said on
condition of anonymity because he was also not authorized to release
information to media.
The attack occurred one day after attackers, also traveling by car, threw a
grenade at a civilian vehicle in Baiyaa, wounding two passengers.
U.S. officials have attributed much of the decline in violence to success in
driving Al Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni extremist groups from the Iraqi
capital.
Also Sunday, the U.S. military said it had achieved "significant progress"
in operations against Al Qaeda in four northern provinces since American and
Iraqi forces launched Operation Iron Hammer last week.
A U.S. statement said during the first week of the operation, U.S. and Iraqi
forces had detained more than 200 suspected extremists, captured three "high
value" Al Qaeda operatives and seized more than a ton of various explosives.
U.S. officers had predicted that Al Qaeda and other extremists groups would
try to regroup in the mostly Sunni north after they were driven from
strongholds in Baghdad and Diyala province this year.
Al-Maliki Says Violence in Baghdad Down Dramatically
Sunday, November 11, 2007
BAGHDAD - The number of bombings and suicide attacks has dropped
dramatically in the Iraqi capital, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said
Sunday. Meanwhile, a roadside bomb missed a U.S. convoy in eastern Baghdad,
killing a 12-year-old girl and wounding four other Iraqis, police said.
Al-Maliki, a Shiite Muslim, told reporters that "terrorist acts" including
car bombings and suicide attacks have dropped by 77 percent from last year's
high, a sign that Sunni-Shiite violence "is closed now."
"When the sectarian strife is over, then I will not fear the gangs who are
running between the provinces," al-Maliki said, an apparent reference to Al
Qaeda and other Sunni religious extremists that have been driven from the
capital.
"The majority of these terrorists are fleeing to nearby countries, and I
warned our brothers in the Islamic and Arab countries to be aware in order
that they not harm these countries," he said.
Al-Maliki said he was considering an amnesty for those "who were lured or
committed some crimes," although he added that the move would not include
those "convicted of killings or bombings."
The upbeat statements reflected those of U.S. military officials. Last week,
the commander of U.S. troops in Baghdad, Maj. Gen. Joseph Fil, said bombings
and killings had been declining steadily since a spike last June and "it
continues to come down every month."
Despite security improvements, violence is continuing, although at a lower
level than last year at the height of the sectarian slaughter and before the
arrival of nearly 30,000 U.S. reinforcements sent to Iraq to stem the
killings.
U.S. soldiers sealed off part of the Baladiyat area after a roadside bomb
exploded about 8:45 a.m. as an American convoy was passing through the
mostly Shiite district, a policeman said on condition of anonymity because
he was not authorized to release the information.
The Iraqi victims were all civilians who happened to be in the area when the
explosion occurred, he said. There were no reports of American casualties.
In western Baghdad, assailants in a speeding car hurled a hand grenade at a
minibus traveling Sunday between the Bab al-Muadham bus terminal to Baiyaa,
a flashpoint neighborhood where Shiite militiamen drove away many Sunnis
this year.
Three minibus passengers were seriously wounded, a policeman said on
condition of anonymity because he was also not authorized to release
information to media.
The attack occurred one day after attackers, also traveling by car, threw a
grenade at a civilian vehicle in Baiyaa, wounding two passengers.
U.S. officials have attributed much of the decline in violence to success in
driving Al Qaeda in Iraq and other Sunni extremist groups from the Iraqi
capital.
Also Sunday, the U.S. military said it had achieved "significant progress"
in operations against Al Qaeda in four northern provinces since American and
Iraqi forces launched Operation Iron Hammer last week.
A U.S. statement said during the first week of the operation, U.S. and Iraqi
forces had detained more than 200 suspected extremists, captured three "high
value" Al Qaeda operatives and seized more than a ton of various explosives.
U.S. officers had predicted that Al Qaeda and other extremists groups would
try to regroup in the mostly Sunni north after they were driven from
strongholds in Baghdad and Diyala province this year.
