Confusion over Falluja ceasefire

BBC ^ | 4/09/04

[kattracks]

There is confusion over the status of a ceasefire called by US troops besieging the Iraqi town of Falluja.

The suspension of hostilities was declared in an effort to open talks with local insurgents.

The move came on the fifth day of a battle for control of the Sunni town that has left up to 300 Iraqis dead.

A US commander on the ground said fighting had resumed after talks fell through, but a US general said the suspension was still in place.

One year to the day after the fall of Saddam Hussein, fierce battles are continuing further south in Karbala, where coalition troops are battling Shia militias loyal to radical cleric Moqtada Sadr.

The US said six more soldiers had died over two days, while at least 14 Iraqis were killed in Karbala and Falluja.

Elsewhere in Iraq:

• US forces re-took the city of Kut from Shia militiamen, two days after it was abandoned by Ukrainian troops

• Clashes were reported between US troops and insurgents in Abu Ghraib, west of Baghdad. One witness said Sunni militants had attacked a US convoy, killing at least nine people; other accounts said insurgents had seized control of the road to Falluja

• Insurgents are said to have clashed with US forces in the mixed Sunni and Shia town of Baquba when demonstrations escalated after Friday prayers. Witnesses said smoke was rising from government buildings.

Hit-and-run

The brief "suspension of offensive operations" in Falluja was announced by the US administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, "to allow for a meeting between members of the Governing Council, local Muslim leadership and the leadership of anti-coalition forces".

But 90 minutes later, Lt Col Brennan Byrne, commander of the 1st Battalion 5th Marine Regiment, said his men had been given the go-ahead to resume fighting.

However, he was contradicted by Brig Gen Mark Kimmitt, deputy director of operations for the US military in Iraq, who said the suspension was still in place.

Two US marines and 10 Iraqi rebels are said to have been killed in five days of fighting in Falluja.

The US troops were hit by sniper fire as they edged through the city block by block, facing hit-and-run attacks with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades.

F-16 warplanes flew overhead and plumes of smoke rose from the ground, reporters in the city said.

Inhabitants were said to be fleeing the city as the fighting intensified.

Map locating recent clashes There were reports of bodies in the streets and of makeshift clinics being set up, with medical supplies scarce.

However, the top US general in Iraq, Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez, denied his forces were blocking humanitarian supplies.

One journalist in Falluja, Tony Perry of the Los Angeles Times, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he had seen dead marines and dead insurgents after all-day street battles.

He said the fighting had mainly taken place in less populated, more industrial areas of the city, but loss of civilian lives was inevitable in urban conflict of this kind.

"The marines are putting no timetable on this," he said, adding that US forces were ready to stay in Falluja "until hell freezes over".

'Not like Vietnam'

At least 40 American and allied soldiers and hundreds of Iraqis have been killed in the surge of violence in the past week.

But after the US admitted it may have to keep troops in the country longer than envisaged, Gen Sanchez denied that the Iraq conflict was becoming as intractable as the war in Vietnam.

"I don't see any shadows of Vietnam in Iraq," he said.

In the holy city of Karbala, where a major Shia religious event is due to take place at the weekend, there was fierce fighting overnight.

Some 120 US troops have been sent there to help Bulgarian and Polish forces battling Shia militiamen loyal to Mr Sadr.

Three militants and an Iranian woman are said to have been killed in fighting near a shrine in the city, while one report said as many as 15 Iraqis died.

Militiamen have reportedly issued an ultimatum demanding that foreign troops leave before the Shia holy day of Arbaeen.

In other developments, Mr Bremer named the Governing Council's Samir Shakir Mahmoud, a Sunni, as interior minister, replacing Shia incumbent Nuri Badran who resigned on Monday.

Mouwafak al-Rabii, a Shia member of the Governing Council, was appointed to the new post of national security adviser.

VIOLENCE IN IRAQ

[Just mythoughts]

The BBC is really busy writing, rewriting, and updating this story!

[mewzilla]

FNC had Brig. Gen. Kimmitt on about an hour ago. He said the pause was still on, and that it's NOT a cease-fire.

[Jeff Head]

We should not be "offering" them anything or appear confused in the least!

It only make us appear weak and will further embolden these animals. Take the fight to them, ruthlessly, until they cry for mercy and peace.

Jeff

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[Glenn]

until they cry for mercy and peace.

I agree. Crush them until they ask us nicely not to crush them anymore. That is defeat. Anything less leaves them in a position to keep going.

[Just mythoughts]

"FNC had Brig. Gen. Kimmitt on about an hour ago. He said the pause was still on, and that it's NOT a cease-fire."


Yes I heard. Rearming, reloading and gathering intel, allowing women and children to leave.

Not allowing the men and boys to leave.

Calling it "Humanitarian" break. However,
"IF" Marines are shot at during this time they will return fire.

Most important point to me is US/coalition is calling the shots, and those who choose to live are given the opportunity to put down their weapons.

[bogdanPolska12]

Relax guys. Everything is fine. Wait couple hours and tune to media reports later today or tomorrow morning.
There is more to this then eye can see.

God bless America
Bogdan

[maestro]

There is more to this then eye can see.

Big 'stuff' to start coming down heavy and hard!

[bushfamfan]

I hope these reports of Marines ceasing hostilities against these murderers is not correct. It's kind of like they are attempting to regroup and restrengthen. I was enraged when I saw a headline about negotiations. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE LEADERSHIP IN NEGOTIATING WITH TERRORISTS??

[steve8714]

Just make sure we don't fall for any "truce of Allah" crap.

[Jeff Head]

We handily defeated their organized armies...and then let the absolute bilk of them go home without feeling very much pain. Many of them went home to cities we bypassed in our push on Baghdad, cities that were never truly pacified.

Now, a year later, those who were supporters of the Ba'athists, those who are radical Islamics and those who otherwise hate America but never felt our real teach outside of a few days/weeks of shock and awe when we defeated their armies...are feeling embolden.

They must feel the cost of attacking us and killing our people. They, and all of those who support, abett or give sanctuary to them, must be pacified with extreme prejudice. Right now, that element (which admittedly is a relative small minority amongst Iraqis) do not feel like they have been whipped and defeated. It is time to forthrightly show them how utterly wrong they are...and to not let up for an instant until they literraly beg us to stop and prostrate themselves before our forces...nothing else will do at this point.

Jeff

[San Jacinto]

Any word on whether the Fallujah street dance has been canceled this weekend?

[Alia]

Coalition is giving time for women and children to leave the city. It's a time -- they should take it now. Huge problem Vigilant Resolve has had is that the Insurgent/Militia are USING women and children to hide behind. After this -time-out, it's big time operation Iron Sword. IMHO, of course.

[Jeff Head]

They had that chance before the operation started, when we telegraphed for days to them what we were about to do.

Now it is time to continue without let-up and with extreme prejudice until the enemy there either litterally begs for mercy, or their ability to fight us is utterly annihilated.

[Sender]

...allowing women and children to leave...Not allowing the men and boys to leave.

Remember the email from a Marine yesterday about the men they are seeking? "If they haven't left town, they will die."

[Squantos]

Looking at live pic of Baghdad on FOX..........somethings up as the streets are empty . Looks like high noon an gunfight potential is keeping folks off the streets . ......Jeff Head for President !

Stay safe !

[Alia]

I agree with you.

[Just mythoughts]

"Just make sure we don't fall for any "truce of Allah" crap."


AGREED!

[Just mythoughts]

"Any word on whether the Fallujah street dance has been canceled this weekend?"

Not aware of cancellations, however I have been away from the tube for over an hour.