Supporters of an anti-American cleric rioted in four Iraqi cities Sunday, killing at least eight U.S. troops. At least 24 Iraqis were also killed.
In the biggest demonstration, eyewitnesses said bullets were shot during a protest in Najaf by thousands of Muqtada Sadr supporters, who had gathered outside the headquarters of Spanish troops in this city.
At least 24 Iraqis were killed, witnesses said. More than 200 people were injured, some seriously. An American soldier and at least one Salvadoran soldier were also killed.
It was unclear who opened fire during the demonstration.
The crowd was protesting the reported detention of an aide to Sadr.
An estimated 5,000 people marched to the garrison of the Spanish military contingent in Najaf after hearing that Mustafa al-Yacoubi, a top al-Sadr aide, had been detained.
For their part, Spanish troops in the area have said they have no information on al-Yacoubi's reported detention and did not participate in any such operation.
In Baghdad, fighting in the neighborhood of Sadr City killed seven U.S. troops and injured at least 24, the U.S. military said in a written statement, cited by The AP.
The American Shiite confrontation came after a night of protests that saw Sadr's supporters throw themselves at US tanks blocking their way toward the occupation headquarters as they headed to protest.
According to AFP, a police officer said two demonstrators were crushed by the tanks.
Baghdad has been rocked by demonstrations since last Sunday when occupation authorities closed al-Hawza newspaper, a pro-Sadr publication, for 60 days on charges of inciting violence and hostility against the occupation.
Al-Sadr's office in Baghdad issued a statement later Sunday, calling off street protests and saying the cleric would stage a sit-in at a mosque in the city of Kufa, which is near Najaf.
In the southern city of Nasiriyah, Italian soldiers traded fire with Shiites demonstrating against al-Yacoubi's detention, said Lt. Col. Pierluigi Monteduro, chief of staff of Italian troops in the region. One Italian officer was injured in the leg.
Also in the south, British troops clashed with protesters in Amarah, according to the Ministry of Defense in London.
Elsewhere, two U.S. Marines were killed in separate attacks west of Baghdad, the American Army stated on Sunday.
It added one Marine was killed in action on Saturday and the other died on Sunday from injuries sustained in a separate incident on Saturday. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
