Citizens escape Ramadi, Ukraine to withdraw from Iraq

[leftchick]

http://www.aljazeera.com/cgi-bin/news_service/middle_east_full_story.asp?service_id=7313

Residents of Ramadi, the capital of the western Anbar province, started to escape the city after the latest assault launched by U.S. occupation forces and Iraqi troops.

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On Thursday, they stepped up their operations, using warplanes and an AC-130 gunship. At least 100 suspects have been captured since the offensive started.

Fearing that the attacks could be similar to the Fallujah nightmare, where most of the city’s population was forced to flee during the three-month long offensive, many Ramadi citizens decided to take their belongings and travel to Baghdad or to the camps where Fallujah residents escaped to.

Government offices and stores are closed and residents are facing difficulties buying food supplies as the assault came suddenly and without warning, so they didn’t have any time to prepare.

[leftchick]

1. interesting quote....

But the residents, tired and afraid of the ongoing violence, chose to leave the city before the situation worsens.

"They want to destroy the whole area and build a New York City there, and for that they are tearing down everything. We want to live in peace. We are tired of fighting and bombs. God, please protect us," said Muhammad Farhan, a father of five, who was leaving the city with his family.