U.S. troops to root out car-bomb shops

[maddezmom]

U.S. troops to root out car-bomb shops By ROBERT H. REID, Associated Press Writer
Mon Mar 12, 9:10 PM ET



BAGHDAD - With violence down in Baghdad, U.S. troops will fan out into communities on the rim of the capital to shut down car bomb factories, which remain a threat despite a recent drop in execution-style killings in the city, the U.S. military said Monday.

At least 55 people have been killed by bombs in Baghdad over the last three days, including three security guards who died Monday in a blast targeting an Agriculture Ministry convoy.

Chief U.S. spokesman Maj. Gen. William C. Caldwell said most of the car bombs and improvised explosive devices — the military's term for roadside bombs — are believed to be assembled in makeshift factories in towns just outside the capital.

"And that's where the greater presence of these forces will go," Caldwell said without elaborating or giving a timeframe.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/iraq;_ylt=AqsW0SS69WGbTlOORbldg6JX6GMA


~snip~
Late Monday, thunderous explosions could be heard from the south of the city, and Arab television stations said U.S. forces were shelling two mostly Sunni districts near the Dora neighborhood — the scene of several bombardments in recent weeks.

At a news conference, Caldwell said U.S. and Iraqi troops have destroyed "two or three" car bomb factories since the Baghdad security operation began.

But that has not stopped the bombers.

more:http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-03-12-car-bomb-factories_N.htm?csp=34


FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, March 13
13 Mar 2007 07:28:53 GMT
March 13 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq as of 0700 GMT on Tuesday:

BAGHDAD - A total of 15 bodies with gunshot wounds were found on Monday in different districts of Baghdad, police said.

BAGHDAD - Gunmen opened fire at a police vehicle killing three policemen and wounding two in Zayuna district in eastern Baghdad, police said.

MOSUL - A total of 13 bodies with gunshot wounds were found during the last 48 hours in the northern city of Mosul, 390 km (240 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.

more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAR326473.htm

[luckyleftyme2]

1. good news

about time better late than never

[Eugene]

2. Rocket attack in central Baghdad, 2 dead; Iraqi translator killed

(Reuters)

FACTBOX-Security developments in Iraq, March 13
13 Mar 2007 10:25:59 GMT
Source: Reuters

March 13 (Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq as of 1000 GMT
on Tuesday:

* Denotes a new or updated item.

* BAGHDAD - A Katyusha rocket landed on a commercial street of Karrada in central
Baghdad, killing two people and wounding two others, police said.

-snip-

* KUT - Gunmen killed an Iraqi translator working for the U.S. military on Monday
in the city of Kut, 170 km (105 miles) south east of Baghdad, police said.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L1356733.htm

[Eugene]

3. Reuters: Iraq's PM visits insurgent stronghold of Ramadi

Iraq's PM visits insurgent stronghold of Ramadi
13 Mar 2007 09:35:15 GMT
Source: Reuters

RAMADI, Iraq, March 13 (Reuters) - Iraq's Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki flew
to the western city of Ramadi on Tuesday on his first visit to the heartland of the
Sunni Arab insurgency fighting his U.S.-backed government.

Maliki, who flew accompanied by reporters, met with tribal leaders, local government
officials and commanders of Iraqi and U.S. security forces in Ramadi, 110 km (68
miles) west of Baghdad.

The highly symbolic visit to the capital of Anbar province, his first since taking
office in May 2006, comes as thousands of U.S. and Iraqi troops are being deployed
in Baghdad in a security plan that is seen as the last chance to avert a civil war.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IBO334241.htm

(Agence France-Presse)

Iraq PM visits hotbed of Sunni insurgency

2 hours, 31 minutes ago

RAMADI, Iraq (AFP) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki visited the western city
of Ramadi, a hotbed of Sunni insurgency, on Tuesday in an attempt to show his
government is getting on top of the security situation.

The Shiite premier met the governor of Anbar province, Maamun Sami Rashid at
camp Blue Diamond, a base shared by the US troops and the 7th division of
Iraqi army.

-snip-

US marine Brigadier General John Allen described the meeting as "another example
of development of reconciliation."

-snip-

Maliki's party arrived in Ramadi on board two US army Blackhawk helicopters
escorted by two Apache gunships. He met the governor and Iraqi Interior Minister
Jawad al-Bolani before heading into the meeting.

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070313/wl_mideast_afp/iraqunrestusmalikiramadi_070313084641