The Hindu : International : U.S., Iraqi forces raid Ramadi mosques

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 13, 2004

International

International

U.S., Iraqi forces raid Ramadi mosques

BAGHDAD, OCT. 12. Iraqi forces backed by U.S. soldiers and Marines raided mosques on Tuesday in the resistance stronghold of Ramadi and detained a prominent cleric following fierce clashes that hospital officials said killed at least four persons.

U.S. aircraft also rocketed a mosque northwest of Ramadi on Monday after militants opened fire from there on U.S. Marines, the U.S. command said. The seven mosques targeted in Ramadi are suspected of supporting militants through a range of activities, including harbouring them , storing illegal weapons caches, promoting violence and encouraging resistance recruitment, the command said.

`Cowboy behaviour'

Sheikh Abdul-Aleim Saadi, the provincial leader of the influential Association of Muslim Scholars, was detained at Mohammed Aref Mosque, his relatives and followers said.

Angry residents accused Americans of disrespecting the sanctity of city mosques. "This cowboy behaviour cannot be accepted," said cleric Abdullah Abu Omar of the Ramadi Mosque. "The Americans seem to have lost their senses and have gone out of control."

The 1st Marine Division said the raids followed a pattern of resistance activity in and around Ramadi mosques in recent weeks. "The 1st Marine Division respects the religious and cultural significance represented by mosques," it said in a statement. "However, when militants violate the sanctity of the mosque by using the structure for military purposes, the site loses its protective status."

The raids followed two days of clashes in the city, a Sunni militant stronghold 113 km west of Baghdad.

Turkish hostages freed

Meanwhile, Turkey's Foreign Minister confirmed on Tuesday in Ankara that 10 Turkish hostages had been freed by kidnappers in Iraq. He said the 10 employees of the Turkish construction company VINSAN were released and that their families were notified of their release.

Bigley's body found

The body of the British engineer Kenneth Bigley, killed by his kidnappers last week after three weeks in captivity, was dumped just south of Baghdad on Friday, sources close to the resistance said today. Bigley (62), was beheaded by followers of the Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi on Thursday.

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