Iraq's Falluja refugees start going home Thursday

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http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L22242438.htm

BAGHDAD, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Some 2,000 Iraqis who fled a U.S.-led offensive on Falluja more than a month ago will return to the Sunni Muslim city on Thursday although sporadic fighting persists in some areas, Iraqi ministers said on Wednesday. snip

More than 200,000 people who sought shelter in nearby villages ahead of the Nov. 8 attack have yet to go home and some are in need of aid as night-time temperatures drop to freezing. snip

"We have told them that there are areas where the debris has not been removed so far, there are homes that are destroyed, there are mines in some streets, but our people insisted that they want to return to their city."

There is no power and water in Falluja, 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad, where many buildings have been destroyed and telephone lines are down. snip

Industry Minister Hajem al-Hassani said each resident would receive $100, a heater and fuel rations on return.

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[shrike]

1. To what?

I've seen the pictures; it's a ruin.

[Moderator]

2. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1091886