LOC09:07
06:07 GMT
BAGHDAD, Oct 10 (KUNA) -- At a time the United States condemned the
assassination of member of the Sadrist bloc MP Saleh Al-Aqeeli, eyewitnesses
said that armed clashes erupted late on Thursday in Sadr City between gunmen
and security forces in what was believed to be retaliation for the
assassination of Al-Aqeeli.
The U.S. conviction was uttered by its embassy in Baghdad and the
multinational force in Iraq, which said in a statement they "strongly condemn
the assassination of a member of the Iraqi parliament Dr. Saleh Al-Aqeeli".
The statement described the assassination as a "heinous crime" which was
not aimed at Dr. Al-Aqeeli alone, but was against the democratic institutions
of Iraq.
The embassy called on all parties to resolve their differences through
dialogue and negotiations and through national institutions.
The witnesses said that violent armed clashes erupted earlier in the day in
Sadr city between gunmen believed to be from the Mahdi Army and US-Iraqi joint
forces stationed in the city on the background of the assassination of
Al-Aqeeli.
The witnesses told KUNA over the phone the clashes erupted in Al-Falah
street in the city's downtown, one of the most important streets in Sadr City,
where joint troops are stationed in several points.
Witnesses said they heard explosions and exchanging of small fire arms but
the sound of clashes subsided later. (end)
aha.tg
KUNA 100907 Oct 08NNNN