Supporters of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr ringed the Polish-led military force's headquarters south of Baghdad for several hours Tuesday before withdrawing peacefully, Polish media reported. Some 150 cars surrounded Camp Bablyon, the headquarters of the 9,500-strong force and remained there. No shots were exchanged, Polish news reports said. Polish Defense Minister Jerzy Szmajdzinski said the incident was a demonstration of power. "There were 150 cars around the base full of al-Sadr supporters," Szmajdzinski told the TVN television. "Al-Sadr decided to show to the world and the Iraqis that he exists."
| Hopefully prior to being extinguished... |
The show of force came as U.S. authorities launched a crackdown on al-Sadr and his militia after a series of weekend uprisings in Baghdad and cities and towns to the south that took a heavy toll in both American and Iraqi lives. The fighting marks the first major outbreak of violence between the U.S.-led occupation force and the Shiites since Baghdad fell a year ago. The Polish news agency PAP said residents of villages near the camp left their homes, but that the demonstrators withdrew after a few hours from around the camp near the city of Hillah, 60 miles south of Baghdad. Polish military officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Earlier Tuesday, two Polish and three Bulgarian soldiers were wounded in a shootout near the Iraq city of Karbala, a Polish military spokesman said. Gnatowski said the military was investigating whether the ambush was connected with supporters of al-Sadr. |