Posted on 10/15/2004 5:52:04 AM PDT by Prince Charles
FALLUJAH CLERIC ARRESTED
US troops in Iraq have arrested the chief negotiator in the rebel-held town of Fallujah.
News of the arrest came as American forces carried out high-intensity attacks on the city, west of the capital Baghdad.
The US says the ground and air attacks are part of an ongoing operation and are not the start of moves to recapture the city.
The strikes come a day after the city's leaders suspended peace talks and rejected the Iraqi government's demands to turn over terror mastermind Abu Musab al Zarqawi.
It is thought al Zarqawi, the militant responsible for Ken Bigley's murder, is based there.
American troops detained Khaled al Jumeili, a cleric who led the city's delegates in peace negotiations with the government, as he left Friday prayers, witnesses said.
Police chief Sabar al Janabi was also arrested, Iraqi police said.
Al Zarqawi's group, the Tawhid and Jihad group, has already admitted it carried out yesterday's twin suicide bombings in Baghdad's Green Zone.
At least five people were killed in the attacks, including three Americans, and 20 others were injured.
The Green Zone blasts at a souvenir bazaar and a cafe popular with US troops and civilians were the first suicide bombings inside what is supposed to be the safest place in Iraq.
The sprawling area, in Saddam Hussein's former presidential compound, houses government offices and the US and British embassies.
We're in aggressive negotiation time. (Star Wars reference).
I thought it was a nice touch that they bagged the Religion of Peace cleric right after prayers... and then rolled up the police chief as well.
"Anyone else want to negotiate?" - Bruce Willis in Fifth Element
Falluga Mulla arrest.= a good start.
I'd bet that if we started arresting and jailing all these Mullah agitators ..and really dropping the hammer on them...we would see things settle down.
I bet we would also see that Fat Baby faced Sader change
his tune?
"Negotiation in force" per Gen. Patton
-"American troops detained Khaled al Jumeili...as he left Friday prayers, witnesses said."-
As he left prayers! Now, there's a new attitude!
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