blank

Voice of America ®

Trusted Source of News & Information since 1942

About VOA | Contact VOA News

  • Saturday, 21 November 2009
  • Latest News:

News RSS Feeds RSS Feed

Baghdad's Green Zone Attacked During Sandstorm

Share This

Iraqi officials say insurgents have fired a volley of rockets or mortar rounds into Baghdad's Green Zone during a heavy sandstorm.

At least eight rounds hit the heavily guarded area, which houses the Iraqi government and the U.S. embassy. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

Earlier, Iraqi officials said at least eight people were killed and 42 wounded in fighting overnight and early Sunday in eastern Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood. Police and hospital officials say a woman and two children were among those killed during the clashes between Shi'ite Mahdi Army militiamen and U.S. and Iraqi forces.

The U.S. military said it tracked and killed insurgents in three incidents using drone aircraft and attack helicopters.

In other news, hard-line Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has rejected conditions set by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki for an end to the fighting between his militia and Iraqi security forces. A spokesman for the Sadr movement accused Maliki of wanting to resolve the problem by force and not dialogue.

Last week, Maliki set four conditions for stopping the military crackdown on Mahdi Army militia. The prime minister called on militants to hand over weapons and stop interfering in politics. He also demanded that they hand over all fighters wanted by the government.

Militias loyal to Sadr have been battling coalition and Iraqi forces in Baghdad's Sadr City district since late March. More than 300 people have been killed in those clashes.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

 

Welcome to the new VOANews.com


We'd like to hear what you think of the site - please e-mail us: VOANews@VOANews.com

Video Features

From the Newsroom

From the Newsroom

Afghan Politics - Analysis by Gary Thomas

More »

GoingGreen

Going Green

Watch: The United States debates cutting its carbon dioxide emissions.

More »

Money in Motion

Money in Motion

Watch: Will the declining dollar remain the world's reserve currency?

More »

Now You Know

Now You Know

Watch: A look at the origin and history of the Internet.

More »

The Link

The Link

Have you discovered a Web link you'd like to share with the world?

More »

Most Popular Articles

Special Reports

VOA Blogs

Most E-mailed Articles