Iraqi Army and Sadr's Mahdi Army locked in an all out Battle in Amara

[ECH1969]

Sadr's Mahdi Army attacked Iraqi police in Amara "after police arrested a member of radical cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army militia on suspicion of killing a local intelligence officer in a bomb attack," reports AFP. The Associate Press claims the city is fully under the control of the Mahdi Army of "800 black-clad militiamen with Kalashnikovs."

Reuters states "gunmen with RPGs and AK47s attacked several police stations... The Iraqi Army deployed two companies (around 230 troops) to help defend the police station and British forces provided air surveillance." British forces are on alert to move into the city if needed. The attackers were described as "rogue elements of militias," by a British Army spokesman.

"There are 15 dead, ten of them gunmen, and 90 wounded, including militia, police and civilians. The fighting is continuing," according to Zamil al-Oreibi, Amara's medical director. Five Iraqi police have been wounded. The bulk of the fighting is occurring around the police stations and the Sadr's office.

http://billroggio.com/archives/2006/10/iraqi_army_sadrs_mah.php">Link

[ECH1969]

1. BTTT

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

2. Heh.

More like Mahdi Army's won the Battle of Amara and the news is blowing smoke up our ass.

[NNN0LHI]

3. The battle is over

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2439724

[Kagemusha]

4. And the government lost?

Note that these "rogue elements" attacked when the Badr Corps kidnapped the 19 year old brother of the sheik running these "rogue elements". That's a good way to rile things up, wouldn't you think?

But that's impressive. The British provide surveillance, Iraqi Army deploys two companies... and it's a complete defeat.

[ECH1969]

5. Actually that was the local forces battling the militia

others from outside the city are being sent in.