Many killed in US assault on SamarraFriday 01 October 2004
At least 80 people have been killed and over 100 wounded as US and Iraqi forces pounded Samarra, seizing the city hall and police stations, medics and the military said.
The early Friday morning attack amounted to the first major effort by US and Iraqi forces to reclaim parts of Iraq ahead of nationwide parliamentary elections scheduled for January.
US troops and one battalion each from the Iraqi army and national guard stormed the city before dawn on Friday after a previous arrangement signed on 9 September for US forces to enter the town and patrol peacefully fell apart one week ago.
At least 80 bodies and more than 100 wounded were brought to Samarra General Hospital, said Dr Khalid Ahmad. The hospital was running out bandages, oxygen and other supplies, he added.
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At least three houses were flattened and dozens of cars charred, residents said.
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Water and electricity services were cut off, and troops ordered residents to stay off the streets as they moved from house to house in search of insurgents. A 7 pm to 7 am curfew was announced through loud-hailers.
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http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/D9816F5A-8CC4-4D55-8E60-27111927472A.htm
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