The Hindu : International : Coordinated attacks in five cities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 25, 2004

International

International

Coordinated attacks in five cities

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, JUNE 24. With less than a week left for political handover in Iraq, violence surged in several cities and towns as guerillas battling American occupation appeared to have launched well-coordinated attacks, leading to heavy causalities.

At least 70 persons have been killed in Fallujah, Ramadi, Baquba and Baghdad — all part of Iraq's "Sunni triangle," apart from the northern city of Mosul.

Mosul appeared to be the worst hit, as at least 44 persons were killed and 216 injured when a series of car bombs exploded. But the strike in Baquba, 55 km away from Baghdad, was seen as politically significant as masked guerillas, dressed in black, took control of the main road intersection. The U.S.-led forces were reportedly not in control of the western section, known as the Al-Mufraq district, though the police chief is expected to secure the segment shortly.

The Jordanian-born Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, believed to be the Al-Qaeda head in Iraq, claimed responsibility for the Baquba attack. Al Zarqawi's message was posted over a Saudi website. In an audiotape released on Wednesday, Al Zarqawi purportedly spoke about the gains that his group had made in Fallujah, where U.S. forces had withdrawn in April end after handing over security of the town to an Iraqi force.

The U.S. military spokesman, Mark Kimmitt, acknowledged that fighting in Baquba was not over, while relative calm had descended over the other flashpoints. Two American soldiers were killed when their convoy was attacked in the city, U.S. officials said. The U.S. planes dropped three 225 kg. bombs to quell the fighting, while guerillas reportedly fired a barrage of mortars.

Amid signs that urban guerilla warfare was beginning to expand, the interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, said the bombings in Ramadi and Baquba were by loyalists of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, while a group affiliated to Al Zarqawi was behind the Mosul blasts. In Fallujah, Iraqi fighters had downed a U.S. Cobra helicopter, but American officials said that the crew had escaped unhurt. Low flying U.S. jets and helicopter gunships flew over the town amid gunfire, while residents were seen fleeing towards the main road that heads out of the city.

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