Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[thepennyking]

29 die in Iraqi clashes
11.25PM, Sun Apr 4 2004


A series of violent clashes between Shi'ite Muslims and coalition forces across Iraq has killed eight US and one Salvadoran soldier and left 20 Iraqis dead.

Militiamen marched to protest against the arrest of an aide to a radical Shi'ite cleric and the closure of a militant Iraqi newspaper.

In the worst clashes near Najaf 20 Iraqis, one American and one Salvadoran soldier were killed.

Witnesses claim Spanish soldiers fired on a group of demonstrators after they marched on a Spanish run military base.

And later, seven US soldiers were killed in fierce clashes with Shi'ites in Baghdad's impoverished slum area of Sadr City.

US military officials in Baghdad said Shi'ite militiamen had tried to take over police stations and government buildings without success using small arms and grenade launchers.