Iraq: Tal Affar - 'Scores of civilians dead'
azzaman: Tal Affar campaign will not end crisis, says official
The massive military campaign on the city of Tal Affar, which has killed scores of civilians and caused large-scale destruction, would not bring stability to the country, said an official charged with solving the crisis."I think the decision to resort to military option was a hasty one - disputes (in the country) will not be solved by government decisions and military operations," said Atheel al-Najafi.
Najafi was negotiating with the government of Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to seek a peaceful solution to Tal Affar when U.S. and Iraqi troops stormed the city on Saturday. Najafi said Jaafari himself had entrusted him with the job and that he could not see why he ordered the attack. He said he had reached an agreement with "the notables and tribal chiefs" in the city to drive out any foreign fighters, if available.
"We had also agreed with the same personalities to let Iraqi army enter the city peacefully without shedding of blood," he added.
Many in Iraq are furious over the attack - particularly members of the Sunni community who see the foray as part of the government's "sectarian pursuits".
Najafi said Tal Affar's council and its dignitaries had accepted government condition to have the Iraqi army enter the city.
Most of Tal Affar's 200,000 people have fled and many of those staying have been detained, killed or injured in the continuing operations.
Tens of thousands of those leaving have no where to go and are staying in the desert. The Iraqi Red Crescent and its counterpart the Red Cross are trying to help but the magnitude of the crisis is far beyond their capabilities.
Azzaman correspondents in the area say the destruction resulting from the campaign, the growing number of casualties and the human suffering will dwarf any 'victory' U.S. troops and Iraqi forces may claim to have achieved.
Our correspondent inside the city says the troops barged into empty and deserted streets.
"We used to hear (from news reports) of the presence of some Arab fighters in the city, but we have seen none of them," the correspondent quoted a resident as saying.
Other residents disputed reports that the troops had captured or killed scores of insurgents. They said most of those killed were among the inhabitants who had no where to go and opted to stay despite the ferocity of shelling by air and artillery.
All those arrested, they added, are young Iraqis who resisted leaving and had nothing to do with the insurgency. Link
The massive military campaign on the city of Tal Affar, which has killed scores of civilians and caused large-scale destruction, would not bring stability to the country, said an official charged with solving the crisis."I think the decision to resort to military option was a hasty one - disputes (in the country) will not be solved by government decisions and military operations," said Atheel al-Najafi.
Najafi was negotiating with the government of Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari to seek a peaceful solution to Tal Affar when U.S. and Iraqi troops stormed the city on Saturday. Najafi said Jaafari himself had entrusted him with the job and that he could not see why he ordered the attack. He said he had reached an agreement with "the notables and tribal chiefs" in the city to drive out any foreign fighters, if available.
"We had also agreed with the same personalities to let Iraqi army enter the city peacefully without shedding of blood," he added.
Many in Iraq are furious over the attack - particularly members of the Sunni community who see the foray as part of the government's "sectarian pursuits".
Najafi said Tal Affar's council and its dignitaries had accepted government condition to have the Iraqi army enter the city.
Most of Tal Affar's 200,000 people have fled and many of those staying have been detained, killed or injured in the continuing operations.
Tens of thousands of those leaving have no where to go and are staying in the desert. The Iraqi Red Crescent and its counterpart the Red Cross are trying to help but the magnitude of the crisis is far beyond their capabilities.
Azzaman correspondents in the area say the destruction resulting from the campaign, the growing number of casualties and the human suffering will dwarf any 'victory' U.S. troops and Iraqi forces may claim to have achieved.
Our correspondent inside the city says the troops barged into empty and deserted streets.
"We used to hear (from news reports) of the presence of some Arab fighters in the city, but we have seen none of them," the correspondent quoted a resident as saying.
Other residents disputed reports that the troops had captured or killed scores of insurgents. They said most of those killed were among the inhabitants who had no where to go and opted to stay despite the ferocity of shelling by air and artillery.
All those arrested, they added, are young Iraqis who resisted leaving and had nothing to do with the insurgency. Link
posted by exoplanet at 6:56 PM
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