Ten killed in firefight as tension grows in Iraq

http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1065809,00.html

A US military police patrol opened fire on guards protecting the office of Syed Mahmoud al-Hassani, one of several clerics in Kerbala. In the firefight, three military policemen from the 101st Airborne Division were killed, the heaviest loss for the US forces for more than a month. Two Iraqi police officers and five of the cleric's armed guards died. Up to 20 others were injured.

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Yesterday a US military armoured personnel carrier returned to the scene of Thursday's shooting and opened fire on gunmen in rooftop positions. Later guards outside Syed al-Hassani's office were seen unpacking weapons including clubs, rifles, grenades, anti-tank missiles and rocket-propelled grenades. Polish troops, who lead the multinational forces in the area just south of Baghdad, watched the cleric's office from a distance.

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"These were guards protecting Syed Mahmood," the sheikh said. "The Americans opened fire without warning."

"We asked the Americans to set up a checkpoint outside our office but they refused," the sheikh said. "We needed security to protect the Syed." He admitted that the guards did not have permits for their weapons. "We asked the Americans for licences and permission but they refused. They kept telling us to come back and ask again," he said. There had been two other clashes between the guards and US troops in recent weeks, he said.

Other supporters of the cleric threatened further attacks against the US and Polish troops in the area. "They want to arrest the Syed but he has got nothing to do with politics, he just concentrates on religious matters," said Noman Abdul Hussain, 40, who was at the office during the shooting on Thursday. "All the guards are from the tribes and all are against the Americans now."
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(Mods, this story is a compilation of several seperate stories with some first person interviews previously not reported. I'm unsure as to if it would be considered a dupe or not, I leave it in your capable hands)

Yep, sounds like things are going JUST DANDY in Iraq.

Just. Dandy.

Shit can only float so long. This ship is taking on water faster than it can bail.

Only three Americans died; the American wounded and the "foreign infidels" as defined by the crazies running our country don't count.

geezz!!

Condi explained it all on Oprah today. Nothing to see here.

This whole freakin war is a nightmare. Now the administration is countering with a "good news campaign". Where's the good news in people being killed and maimed every single day?

why do the media refer now to gun fights as "fire fights"?
Firemen fight fires.
Soldiers shoot bullets with guns.

When I hear "fire fight" I think Napalm.