Coalition forces attack protesters

dublin | anti-war / imperialism | news report

Sunday April 04, 2004 16:22

by Starstruck - UCD Left

19 people killed,over 100 wounded

Followed by hypocritical comments by U.S administrator hours later

At least 19 people have been killed and around 100 injured in clashes between Spanish-led troops and demonstrators in the Iraqi city of Najaf.
Four soldiers from El Salvador and two from Iraq were reportedly killed in the firefight, which broke out when Iraqi protesters marched on their base.

The crowd were protesting in support of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. Moqtada Sadr supporters want colition forces out of Iraq

The US administrator in Iraq, Paul Bremer, said protesters had "crossed the line and moved to violence"

He pointed out that the coalition forces were attempting to deliver freedom to the Iraqis;freedom of assembly,freedom of speech and freedom of the press and that such protests as that this morning would not be tolerated.(?)

The protest was partly sparked in opposition to the forced closure of a newspaper the Americans described as "provocative".
The hypocrisy of Mr Bremers comments on the freedoms the invadors are attempting to bring is clear following the attacks earlier today