U.S. Troops Occupy Iraq Oil Refining City

[Khephra]

BY HAMZA HENDAWI
Associated Press Writer

October 6, 2003, 5:56 AM EDT


BEIJI, Iraq -- U.S. forces removed the police chief of Beiji from office Monday after a weekend of fighting and riots between pro-Saddam Hussein demonstrators, Iraqi police and U.S. soldiers in this important oil refining city north of Baghdad.

American troops were in the city streets Monday morning crouched behind machine guns in firing positions. There were U.S. snipers on the roof of the burned out police station and Bradley fighting vehicles patrolled the city.

Apparently to appease the angry citizenry, the U.S. command in the region reinstated Hamid al-Qaifi, the former police chief who had been elected by tribal leaders after Saddam's ouster. The Americans removed him in May and replaced him with Ismail al-Jabouri, who in turn was replaced Monday on orders from the U.S. 4th Infantry Division which controls the area.

"The American soldiers were mostly firing when they were fired at," said former police Maj. Ashraf al-Qaifi. "Most of the fighting was between the police and the young armed men."

He and the other witnesses interviewed by The Associated Press estimated between 1,000 and 2,000 young and very well-armed men engaged the police and the U.S. soldiers.

more.................

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/world/wire/sns-ap-iraq-beiji-fighting,0,3135857.story?coll=sns-ap-world-headlines

[bif]

1. Good!

Have to make sure the oil's secure.

[E_Zapata]

2. i am sick of this being blamed on 'pro-saddam supporters'

maybe they are just PRO-IRAQ in general, and want their country back just as much as I would if another country occupied the US. I would fight against a foreign occupier, but no one on earth could reasonably call me a 'pro-bush supporter'......oh no way.

It's bullshit spin by the US.

When the protest fighters in Iraq gives themselves a name like B'aathists for Saddam.....then the US can apply a lable. But they haven't. They are just regular people dealing with a horrible situation created by the USA.

errrgg.

[Barrett808]

3. Hey, that's Democracy in action!

The military restored the elected police chief!

[ConcernedCanuk]

4. ___Chasing the police outta the city - - GREAT idea - (not)__

From the article:

"Beiji, home to Iraq's largest oil refinery, has a population of about 60,000 and is 145 miles north of Baghdad on the main road to Mosul, Iraq's third largest city.

Ahmed Samran, and 18-year-old policeman, said that most of Beiji's 300-strong police force fled the city Saturday. "

GeeWhizGolly - the USA has enough trouble without chasing the police out - no - ??

OOPS - I furgot

- the O-I-L refinery is here

- silly me -

___ :dunce: ___