US President Bush appealed to his big-power allies Thursday to do more to guide Iraq's transformation into a stable democracy, stating the "Iraqi people need help" to defend themselves, rebuild their country and hold elections.
Bush made these comments, following a meeting with French President Jacques Chirac, as the annual Group of Eight summit of big industrial countries was ending without Bush winning any additional commitments from summit partners for help on Iraq.
Meanwhile, Shiite fighters and Iraqi forces fought for control of the police headquarters in the holy city of Najaf on Thursday. Four Iraqis were killed and 13 were wounded, hospital officials said.
According to The AP, fighters loyal to Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sadr attacked the station near the city's Revolution of 1920 Square after authorities tried to detain suspected thieves, police and witnesses said. Al-Sadr's spokesman, Qais al-Khazali, said the police shot first and that the firefight continued because the family members of one slain fighter were seeking revenge.
Two of al-Sadr's followers were killed and several were wounded, al-Khazali said.
Al-Sadr's fighters see the Iraqi police as being collaborators with U.S. occupation forces. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
