Iraqis Demanding Jobs Resume Protests (Sunday)

[Barrett808]

Iraqis Demanding Jobs Resume Protests
Iraqis Demanding Jobs Resume Protests a Day After Deadly Clash With British Troops, Police
The Associated Press

BAGHDAD, Iraq Jan. 11 — Hundreds of Iraqis hurled stones at British soldiers who waded into the crowd wielding batons in the southeastern town of Amarah on Sunday, a day after clashes that killed six protesters and wounded at least 11.

Demonstrators demanding jobs tried to rush the troops guarding the town hall, but the British beat them back from the compound, which also houses the U.S.-led coalition and the 1st Battalion of Britain's Light Infantry.

Earlier, U.S. officials acknowledged that American soldiers shot to death two Iraqi policemen who failed to identify themselves in the northern town of Kirkuk.

...

The trouble in Amarah, 200 miles southeast of Baghdad, started Saturday when hundreds of Iraqis gathered to protest that authorities had not kept a promise to give them jobs. They stoned the town hall, shattering windows.

As the protesters grew agitated, shots rang out from the crowd, a British military spokeswoman said. At the same time, troops "received reports of small explosions in the crowd."

(more)

http://abcnews.go.com/wire/World/ap20040111_219.html

[Barrett808]

1. More details -- yikes

Impatient Iraqis Rally Against Coalition
By NADIA ABOU EL-MAGD, Associated Press Writer

AMARAH, Iraq - Impatience with Iraq's occupying forces boiled over Sunday as unemployed Iraqis pelted British troops with stones and a top Shiite Muslim cleric demanded the country's next parliament be elected — not chosen by local caucuses, as foreseen by the Americans.

Also Sunday, a U.S.-backed Iraqi politician said an ongoing purge of members of Saddam Hussein's Baath party had pushed 28,000 Iraqis from their jobs, with a similar number expected to follow.

In the southern city of Amarah, waves of protesters — some armed with sticks and shovels — rushed British troops guarding the city hall, a day after clashes here killed six protesters and wounded at least 11.

The British drove the crowd back from the compound, which also houses the U.S.-led occupation force and the 1st Battalion of Britain's Light Infantry. Booms and flashes of light from makeshift bombs exploded in the melee.

(more)

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040111/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq&cid=540&ncid=1480

[Just Me]

2. The "occupation" is really starting to fall apart,...

it seems. As anticipated by a lot of folks, the Iraqi people would tire of the oppressive rule by the occupation and rise up against them. This is a wave which will only grow bigger.

[Barrett808]

3. Photos

British troops face protesters in the southern Iraqi city of Amarah Sunday Jan. 11, 2004. Hundreds of Iraqis hurled stones at British soldiers who waded into the crowd wielding batons in this southeastern city Sunday, the day after clashes that killed six protesters and wounded at least 11. (AP Photo/Nabil Aljurani)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040111/481/dv10401111500









British troops ready themselves to face protesters in the southern Iraqi city of Amarah Sunday Jan. 11, 2004. Hundreds of Iraqis hurled stones at British soldiers who waded into the crowd wielding batons in this southeastern city Sunday, one day after clashes that killed six protesters and wounded at least 11. (AP Photo/Nabil Aljurani)
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/040111/481/dv10301111459

[Yavin4]

4. Don't These Iraqis Know That Jobs Are A Lagging Indicator?

My advice to the Iraqis:

Get use to high unemployment when a Bush is running your country.