AMARA, Iraq (Reuters) - Supporters of anti-American cleric Moqtada al-Sadr accused Iraqi security forces on Friday of heavy-handed action in a crackdown in the southern city of Amara, calling it a 'clear provocation.' Adnan al-Selawi, head of the Sadr movement's office in Amara, 300 km (185 miles) southeast of Baghdad, said the Shi'ite cleric's supporters had hoped the security sweep in the city, which began on Thursday, would be professional. Kicking ass and taking names of scumbags is very professional.
'But unfortunately we found many breaches and violations,' he told Reuters, accusing security forces of insulting and harassing civilians, random shooting and beating people.
| So he's a nancy-boy masquerading as a tough guy ... |
But Sadrists say they are being singled out.
Who else?
| Lutherans? |
That fried it, only our billboards, next they'll be singling out removal of our IEDs.
The head of the security committee for surrounding Maysan province, Latif al-Tamimi, said just 17 people had been detained since the operation began, and two had since been released. A security source in Amara said a further 39 people, including 20 policemen, were arrested on Friday.
Hey, they swore to sever the people (heads from their bodies).
The U.S. military, which says it is only advising the Iraqi army in Amara, said Iraqi security forces had so far discovered 19 weapons caches in the operation. One cache, found in a cemetery outside the city, contained more than 240 rocket-propelled grenades, about 250 mortar rounds, more than 675 anti-tank mines and several rocket launchers, it said in a statement.
This is a example of heavy-handed actions and a 'clear provocation'.
Selawi said many people had been held, including about 200 members of the police force in Maysan, who he said authorities suspected of being Sadr supporters. Nevertheless, he said he had told members of the Mehdi Army militia not to respond with violence. 'If there is a violation, he must confront this with a smile,' he said.
| "Please don't kill us!" |
Securing the weapons cache in the mosque.
| Where else would you secure it ... |
Of what?