US forces RAID Iraq JOURNALIST union offices -- ensuring their FREEDOMS

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"While no soldier wants war, he understood the necessity of war -- that it can ensure the freedoms we enjoy in America." - Bush, 6 May 2006




2007-02-20,

Union chairman calls for support from media worldwide as US forces arrest 10 guards, confiscate their licensed weapons.


BAGHDAD - US troops raided the offices of the Iraqi Journalists Union in central Baghdad and arrested armed 10 guards, the body's chairman, Shihab al-Timimi, said on Tuesday.

"US forces raided the union's headquarters in the Kasra district at 9:00 pm (1800 GMT) on Monday, arrested 10 guards and confiscated their licensed weapons," Timimi said.

"American soldiers broke down the doors to employees' offices and tampered with journalists' files, and left the building in very vulnerable conditions with broken doors and without guards," he added.

Timimi demanded that US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad "intervene personally to help free the guards and issue a public apology to Iraqi journalists."

The US troops might have come during daytime "while employees are here so doors could be opened normally for them," the official said.

"The union condemns this strange and irresponsible behaviour and holds these occupying forces responsible for the guards' safety," he continued.

Timimi called for support from media worldwide, and demanded that the Iraqi government "take a patriotic stand to prevent such violations of Iraqi unions and institutions."

http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=19674


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1. .

[Richard Steele]

2. SLIGHTLY more subtle than just shooting them personally...

Slightly.