WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 05, 2007
18:20 MECCA TIME, 15:20 GMT
Deadly car bomb in central Baghdad
Gates, right, met Iraqi leaders on Wednesday in an
unannounced visit to the country [AFP ]
At least 14 people have been killed by a car bomb near
a Shia mosque in central Baghdad as Robert Gates, the
US defence secretary, visits the capital.
Police and hospital officials said another 28 people
were wounded on Wednesday when the parked car exploded
in the Karradah neighbourhood.
The blast occurred at about 5pm (14:00 GMT) as
worshippers gathered for evening prayers, and only
minutes before Gates began a news conference in the
Green Zone across the Tigris river.
Witnesses said gunfire could be heard after the blast
and a plume of smoke rose into the sky.
It was the worst attack in Baghdad since 32 people
were killed in twin car bombings in the predominantly
Shia district of Bayaa in the city's southwest on
September 26.
The US defence secretary was in the capital to assess
whether a reported downturn in fighting in Iraq could
be sustained.
Gates flew into the northern city of Mosul earlier on
Wednesday in an unannounced visit to the country, and
proceeded to Baghdad after meeting US commanders.
Your Views
"With the help of local tribes and the surge of US
troops many sections of Iraq are seeing less and less
violence."
Ice Man, Atlanta, US
Send us your views
One person was killed by a car bomb near a police
station in Mosul hours before Gates touched down. Car
bombs in Baquba and Kirkuk, another two cities north
of Baghdad, killed at least seven more.
The US military also announced the deaths of three
soldiers, killed in a "complex attack" a day earlier
involving a roadside bomb and small-arms fire north of
Baghdad.
Despite the ongoing fighting, Gates said he believed
"a secure, stable and democratic Iraq is within
reach", although much remains to be done.
"We need to be patient," the Pentagon chief told
reporters, standing alongside Abdul-Qader al-Obeidi,
Iraq's defence minister.
"We also need to be absolutely resolved in our desire
to see the nascent signs of hope across Iraq expand
and flourish so that all Iraqis can enjoy peace and
prosperity."
Reconciliation
With attacks reportedly at their lowest levels in
nearly two years, attention has focused on whether the
Shia-led government can reconcile with disaffected
Sunni Arabs, especially as the US begins limited troop
withdrawals.
Gates urged the Iraqi government to integrate
mainly-Sunni Arab neighbourhood patrol units with its
army and police.
Washington credits the 60,000-strong neighbourhood
patrol forces with helping to reduce violence.
"Iraqis who have chosen to fight al-Qaeda need to be
integrated into Iraq's security forces or provided
other job opportunities," he said.
Earlier on Wednesday the government took a step in
that direction, announcing that it would put 45,000 of
the patrol members on its payroll by the middle of
2008.
That means tens of thousands of armed Sunni Arabs,
many believed to have fought against the government
before this year, will soon be working for it.
Despite the reported security gains, Colonel Raymond
Thomas, an assistant commander of the US division
responsible for the north, said it was asking for more
troops for Diyala province, of which Baquba is the
capital.
The US reports that attacks across Iraq have fallen 55
per cent since a build-up of American troops became
fully deployed in mid-June.
US military commanders say they are confident they can
maintain gains in security despite the planned
withdrawal of more than 20,000 soldiers over the next
six to eight months.
There are around 160,000 American troops in Iraq.
Source: Agencies
---------------
Jusfiq Hadjar gelar Sutan Maradjo Lelo
Allah yang disembah orang Islam tipikal dan yang digambarkan oleh al-Mushaf itu
dungu, buas, kejam, keji, ganas, zalim lagi biadab hanyalah Allah fiktif.
__________________________________________________________
Sent from Yahoo! - the World's favourite mail http://uk.mail.yahoo.com
Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
