Fallujah Sunni leaders call for revenge against US

BAGHDAD – Sunni Muslim clerics who fled the bloody fighting in the Iraqi town of Fallujah urged insurgents to hold on to their weapons and vowed revenge against the United States at a gathering of dozens of people in Baghdad yesterday.

“We beg God that he will avenge us and foil the plans” of the Americans, said Sheikh Mohammad Abdel Aziz al-Ani, an imam at a Fallujah mosque, who was greeted by shouts of “Allah Akbar (God is Great)”. “They killed all that moved, even the animals.These people are the enemies of mankind,” he added, calling on people of “good conscience to act to stop” the bloodshed.On Monday, Fallujah leaders announced a deal with the US-led coalition that included the handover of weapons and joint US and Iraqi patrols in the town in return for a halt to US military action that has killed an estimated 600 Iraqis in April, according to hospital sources.A shaky ceasefire has held after a two-week US marine siege of the town, despite sporadic clashes, but coalition officials warned that time was running out after only a “limited” weapons handover by rebels.But yesterday, a fierce two-hour firefight erupted in the embattled town, leaving nine insurgents dead and three marines wounded, marine officials said.The fighting also prevented hundreds of families returning to their homes.Only seven Iraqi families were able to enter the city yesterday, while 50 had been scheduled to do so.Sheikh Hamid al-Maadidi, also from Fallujah, told the Baghdad meeting: “It is out of the question that the mujahedeen hand over their weapons, or that joint patrols with the Americans around the city take place.”Let us fight until the end.The Americans say they are going to trample on the Iraqis.We tell them: ‘It is us who are going to crush you’,” he said.- Nampa-AFP”They killed all that moved, even the animals.These people are the enemies of mankind,” he added, calling on people of “good conscience to act to stop” the bloodshed.On Monday, Fallujah leaders announced a deal with the US-led coalition that included the handover of weapons and joint US and Iraqi patrols in the town in return for a halt to US military action that has killed an estimated 600 Iraqis in April, according to hospital sources.A shaky ceasefire has held after a two-week US marine siege of the town, despite sporadic clashes, but coalition officials warned that time was running out after only a “limited” weapons handover by rebels.But yesterday, a fierce two-hour firefight erupted in the embattled town, leaving nine insurgents dead and three marines wounded, marine officials said.The fighting also prevented hundreds of families returning to their homes.Only seven Iraqi families were able to enter the city yesterday, while 50 had been scheduled to do so.Sheikh Hamid al-Maadidi, also from Fallujah, told the Baghdad meeting: “It is out of the question that the mujahedeen hand over their weapons, or that joint patrols with the Americans around the city take place.”Let us fight until the end.The Americans say they are going to trample on the Iraqis.We tell them: ‘It is us who are going to crush you’,” he said.- Nampa-AFP