IRAQ NEWS

No.48

A state of tension has prevailed in Al-Thawra City in the capital Baghdad, the city of Nasseriyya, and other towns in central and southern governorates during the past few days, following armed clashes between the regime’s repressive forces and angry crowds of people who had come out on the streets denouncing the heinous crime of committed by the fascist rulers of assassinating the prominent religious leader Ayatuilah Mohammed Sadeq al-Sadr and his two sons last Friday night (19/2/1999).

According to our party sources, the most violent of these armed clashed took place in Al-Thawra City, a poor densely-populated district of Baghdad, last Saturday morning (20/2), and in Nasseriyya the following day. Thousands of angry citizens in Al-Thawra, mostly young people as well as soldiers not wearing their military uniform, marched in the streets shouting slogans against Saadam Hussein and his bloody regime.

The demonstrations marched towards Al-Mohsen Mosque where the late Al-Sadr had led people in prayer several times in the past. Close to the mosque, which is situated at the entrance to Al-Thawra City, near Qanat-al-Jaysh (Army Canal), security and police forces opened fire on the protesting crowds, and the demonstrators returned fire, as well as using sticks and stones.

The security forces used heavy machine guns, mounted on special pick up cars. Eye witnesses reported that about 12 tanks and armored vehicles were moving around in the area. Hundreds of people were then rounded up and arrested. The clashes continued until 3:00 p.m.

Various sources have confirmed that Qusay, the son of the dictator, was himself directing the cowardly attacks by the security forces, from a point close to Qanat-al-Jaysh (Army Canal), near the entrance to Al-Thawra City.

According to some estimates, these bloody clashes resulted in about 50 citizens killed and 200 wounded. 17 security men were killed and many others were wounded. The demonstrators destroyed a number of police cars and set them on fire. Night curfew is still imposed on Al-Thawra City.

During almost the same time, another demonstration took place in Al-Kifah Street in Baghdad, where hundreds of people denounced the cowardly assassination. Security men and members of the ruling Baath party dispersed the demonstrators, and no armed clashes were reported.

The authorities took preemptive measures after the clashes in Al-Thawra City, and deployed military and security formations in the streets and entrance points to Al-Shula City, another poor district in the western part of Baghdad. The authorities also severed communications and banned movement since Saturday between Baghdad, Hilla, Najaf, Kerbala, Kufa and Nasseriyya.

Nasseriyya city and some districts of the southern governorate of Thi Qar were also the scene of armed confrontations with the regime’s troops. The people seized control of the center of Nasseriyya for several hours on Sunday 21 February. The authorities responded by sending in Republican Guards and tanks in order to regain control over the city. Eyewitnesses reported that the streets were completely deserted afterwards, except for troops and members of special forces.

In Najaf, where the assassination took place, no demonstrations or clashes took place despite the fact that a state of great tension still prevails there. Sources explain this as being a result of the city being effectively under military occupation, even before the assassination of Ayatullah al-Sadr took place. The authorities had deployed units of Special Guards and Special Security, both military and civilian, inside the city, as well as surrounding it with units of « Fadalyee Saddam» and Contingency Battalions, in anticipation of a possible popular revolt. Similar terrorizing measures were taken in the towns of Kufa, Kerbala and Kifel. Citizens considered these steps as further decisive evidence on the regime’s direct responsibility for the crime.

Some sources have reported that Ayatullah al-Sadr had called the army in his Friday prayers speech in al-Kufa Mosque, only three weeks before his assassination, to be at the service of the people and not against them. He also called for uniting the ranks of people. The regime considered that to be tantamount to inciting the army against it.

The sources also said that Saddam sent a warning message to imam al-Sadr only few days before the crime, and was conveyed to him by Mohammed Hamza al-Zubaidi, member of the Baath party Regional Command who was appointed absolute military ruler of the central region. Al-Sadr, however, ignored the warning and went last Friday to al-Kufa Mosque to deliver his last speech. He is reported to have called for the release of citizens who had been detained by the authorities few weeks ago in Nassiriyya after protesting against the detention of his representative there.