18 Killed in Heavy Fighting in Karbala

[Lou_C]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=1480

18 Killed in Heavy Fighting in Karbala
By FISNIK ABRASHI, Associated Press Writer

KARBALA, Iraq - American tanks and AC-130 gunships pounded insurgent positions near two shrines in the center of the holy city of Karbala early Friday, and the U.S. military said it killed 18 fighters loyal to rebel cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.



The fighting began after insurgents fired rocket-propelled grenades at U.S. tanks patrolling Karbala's so-called "Old City," said U.S. Army Col. Pete Mansoor of the 1st Armored Division.


The tanks returned fire, and more than two hours of heavy fighting followed. Smoke billowed from burning buildings. A rebel weapons cache was hit, the military said.


Much of the fighting was near the city's Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas shrines, which U.S. forces allege are being used by militiamen as firing positions or protective cover. Mansoor said the shrines were not damaged.

[gottaB]

1. You should chop it down to 4 paragraphs

in keeping with DU posting guidelines: "Don't post entire copyrighted articles. If you wish to reference an article, provide a brief excerpt and include a link to the original source. Generally, excerpts should not exceed three or four paragraphs."

It's a striking turn. This morning they were retreating from downtown Karbala.

[gottaB]

2. The killing of Wali, from Al Jazeera

An Aljazeera television employee, Rashid Hamid Wali, has been killed while filming clashes in the flashpoint Iraqi city of Karbala.

The cameraman was shot dead in the early hours of Friday morning, reported Aljazeera.

Wali was filming fierce clashes between US occupation forces and followers of Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr from the fourth floor of the hotel where the crew is staying, reported journalist Abd al-Adhim Muhammad.

Aljazeera cameraman killed in Iraq....

***

Cameraman killed in holy city

[Lou_C]

3. Thank you

:shrug: