Panicked Iraqi Families Flee Amara

by IOL (reposted)

Mon, Jun 23, 2008 6:30PM

AMARAH — As Iraqi forces raided houses in the southern city of Amarah in a manhunt for Shiite militias, families scared of being caught in the cross fire are taking to their heels.

"I have left to Najaf with my family," Abu Zeinab, a 38-yearold engineer from Amarah, told IslamOnline.net on Monday, June 23.

"I don't want to see them trapped at home as it happened with Basra residents looking for food and water," he added, referring to a recent crackdown on Shiite militias in Iraq's second biggest city.

"We are tired of all these attacks."

Iraqi forces have hauled in gun, mortar and bomb caches in Amarah, capital of Maysan, and netted nearly 100 wanted people.

Among those detained are loyalists of young Shiite leader Moqtada al-Sadr, who had garnered a strong following in Amarah, a destitute city of 350,000 southeast of Baghdad.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has promised his forces would not withdraw until "we have a guarantee that the criminals have no chance of returning" to the region.

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For more information: http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satelli...

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