Allawi orders US air strike in Fallujah :: Namibia Internet Gateway cc ::

Articles: Allawi orders US air strike in Fallujah

Posted by admin on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:11 AM

In Iraq, latest counts suggest that 14 people have been killed in a United States air strike on a house in the city of Fallujah.
The attack on a suspected hideout of Islamic militants linked with the Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, was carried out under the orders of the interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi. A senior US official has declared that Prime Minister Allawi's interim government is now firmly in the "driver's seat" in Iraq. And even if the allegations that he personally executed captive Iraqi insurgents cannot be proved it seems Prime Minister Allawi is building his reputation as a political strongman who will deal with Iraq's insurgents with an iron fist. This report from Nick Grimm. NICK GRIMM: After decades under the grip of Saddam Hussein, followed by months in the hands of the coalition forces, Iraq is now reaching towards the outside world under its new interim government. Toward that end, the Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has today announced he'll appoint ambassadors to 43 overseas countries in an effort to normalise its international relations. The announcement came as Prime Minister Allawi met with US Deputy Secretary of State, Richard Armitage, the highest-ranking US official to visit Iraq since the transfer of sovereignty last month. Iyad Allawi speaking to journalists in Baghdad: IYAD ALLAWI: We are indebted to the United States for the support and continued support both in liberating Iraq, and also in the reconstruction of Iraq. NICK GRIMM: It would be easy to characterise the meeting of Richard Armitage and Iyad Allawi as a coming together of two "tough guys" ready to flex some muscle in Iraq. Richard Armitage's reputation, of course, precedes him these days, particularly here in Australia since he weighed into the political debate recently, with an attack on the Federal Opposition. According to all accounts Richard Armitage is not a man to be taken lightly, and he knows the Iraqi Government needs to be treated exactly the same way. RICHARD ARMITAGE: Of course, we discussed the security situation. The President and the Prime Minister both assured me that Iraqi security forces are improving and growing. Iraq is a sovereign nation, and its security services should assume the responsibility for security as soon as possible. NICK GRIMM: Reports emerged during Richard Armitage's 24-hour visit to Baghdad, of the US military's latest attack on a residential building in the flashpoint city of Fallujah. The US diplomat told journalists that the strike had been conducted under the orders of the interim Iraqi government. He said the message was simple: Iraq is now being run by a sovereign government, and United States forces are there to give it whatever support it can. But as is nearly always the case in Iraq, accounts differ as to the exact nature of the target in Fallujah. One witness to the bombing claimed the US planes struck at two in the morning, bombing the home of a poor local family. But the US military claims the house was a hideout for 25 people suspected of having ties to the al-Qaeda linked extremist, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. The Jordanian-born militant is blamed for at least 25 attacks in Iraq, and has had a $35 million reward put on his head. Now, in retaliation, an Islamic website has claimed that Zarqawi himself has offered a bounty of 200,000 dinars, around $400,000, to anyone who kills Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

· 110 Reads ·