Baghdad bomb kills 8, clashes erupt

BAGHDAD – Clashes erupted in two of Iraq’s largest cities yesterday and a bomb killed eight in the capital, highlighting the precarious security situation as US and Iraqi forces try to stem sectarian violence.

Armed gangs fought a pitched battle with Iraqi forces for more than an hour in Basra, Iraq’s second largest city where Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki declared a state of emergency two months ago. Police said they killed six insurgents in the religiously divided city of Mosul, 390 km north of Baghdad and the scene of heavy fighting 10 days ago when US and Iraqi soldiers took several hours to restore calm.US officers warn Iraq could descend into civil war unless violence is controlled and last week thousands more US troops were poured into Baghdad to restore calm to its most dangerous neighbourhoods.Washington says the capital is key to stability in the entire country.The new Shi’ite-led government has promised to reconcile Iraq’s rival sects but almost three months after Maliki took power, the bloodshed continues.A roadside bomb in a small flea market in east Baghdad killed eight and wounded up to 28 yesterday.”The bomb exploded beside those people who were just here to earn their living.They were just selling junk,” said Mohamed Karin, standing amid the scattered debris of old televisions and household utensils.”An old man with his two kids were killed.What did they do? They were innocent,” he said.A Reuters reporter in Basra said the incident there began with an attack on the offices of the governor and the governing council.Aqil al-Furaiji, a member of the Shi’ite-led governing council, said that one policeman was killed and five wounded.Television pictures showed Iraqi forces exchanging heavy fire while two British armoured personnel carriers passed by.British military spokesman Major Charlie Burbridge said more than 100 British soldiers had been dispatched to back up Iraqi troops and police on the ground.Yesterday’s fighting followed violence in the normally quiet southern shrine town of Kerbala on Tuesday between the Iraqi Army and followers of a radical Shi’ite cleric.The Iraqi defence ministry said 12 people were killed in the incident, including two policemen.Several thousand followers of the cleric, Mahmoud al-Hasani, marched in nearby Hilla to demand the release of almost 300 of his supporters arrested during Tuesday’s clashes.Nampa-ReuterPolice said they killed six insurgents in the religiously divided city of Mosul, 390 km north of Baghdad and the scene of heavy fighting 10 days ago when US and Iraqi soldiers took several hours to restore calm.US officers warn Iraq could descend into civil war unless violence is controlled and last week thousands more US troops were poured into Baghdad to restore calm to its most dangerous neighbourhoods.Washington says the capital is key to stability in the entire country.The new Shi’ite-led government has promised to reconcile Iraq’s rival sects but almost three months after Maliki took power, the bloodshed continues.A roadside bomb in a small flea market in east Baghdad killed eight and wounded up to 28 yesterday.”The bomb exploded beside those people who were just here to earn their living.They were just selling junk,” said Mohamed Karin, standing amid the scattered debris of old televisions and household utensils.”An old man with his two kids were killed.What did they do? They were innocent,” he said.A Reuters reporter in Basra said the incident there began with an attack on the offices of the governor and the governing council.Aqil al-Furaiji, a member of the Shi’ite-led governing council, said that one policeman was killed and five wounded.Television pictures showed Iraqi forces exchanging heavy fire while two British armoured personnel carriers passed by.British military spokesman Major Charlie Burbridge said more than 100 British soldiers had been dispatched to back up Iraqi troops and police on the ground.Yesterday’s fighting followed violence in the normally quiet southern shrine town of Kerbala on Tuesday between the Iraqi Army and followers of a radical Shi’ite cleric.The Iraqi defence ministry said 12 people were killed in the incident, including two policemen.Several thousand followers of the cleric, Mahmoud al-Hasani, marched in nearby Hilla to demand the release of almost 300 of his supporters arrested during Tuesday’s clashes.Nampa-Reuter