Reuters: Clashes erupt in Baghdad after mortar attack

[Eugene]

Clashes erupt in Baghdad after mortar attack
06 Dec 2006 13:54:18 GMT
Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, Dec 6 (Reuters) - Fierce clashes erupted between Shi'ite militias and
residents of a Sunni neighbourhood in western Baghdad on Wednesday following
a mortar barrage that wounded five people, the Interior Ministry said.

"There are many explosions now and there have been continuous clashes since late
afternoon," one resident said.

-snip-

The official said gunmen from the Mehdi Army militia loyal to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada
al Sadr had invaded the neighbourhood and were fighting armed residents. Details
of the clashes were sketchy, but residents said they continued as dusk approached.

Earlier on Wednesday, mortar rounds fell on the central Midan district of the capital,
the latest in a spate of such attacks across Baghdad, killing 10 people and wounding 54.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/COL649142.htm

Also:
8 Iraqis Killed, 40 Wounded in Baghdad - AP
FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, Dec 6 - Reuters

[bluerum]

1. It is sectarian violence, not civil war. nt

[acmavm]

2. One sect 'invades' a neighborhood and is fighting with the

residents? And killing each other with mortar barrages too.

Sounds like a pretty uncivil civil war to me.

[Kagemusha]

3. Yeah, this is a new low. Or high, whichever one prefers

I'd be sadder if it wasn't so universally anticipated. The Mahdi Army is doing nothing that the entire city wasn't expecting to happen.

[xchrom]

4. it's all ok -- bush said we're ''winning''.

:eyes: