Two US Soldiers Killed in Baghdad, New Fighting in Fallujah, Bulgarian President Survives Attack in Karbala

26/04/2004| IslamWeb

A huge blast leveled part of a building in the northern Waziriya district of Baghdad as U.S. soldiers searched it for suspected production of "chemical munitions," an American general said. At least two soldiers were killed and five injured. Meanwhile in Fallujah heavy fighting broke out despite attempts to extend a cease-fire. Reuters said one U.S. soldier and eight Iraqi fighters were killed in the fighting, but Iraqi resistance fighters said they killed many US snipers. Elsewhere, US soldiers rolled into a base in Najaf on Monday to replace withdrawing Spanish troops and put pressure on Shiite "militia" in control of parts of the city. The move deploys US troops within the Najaf urban area for the first time since they first moved against the Al-Mahdi Army "militia" of Muqtada al-Sadr. Spanish troops are getting ready to leave, and US troops moved in to prevent the site from falling into the hands of the Iraqi fighters. Overnight, al-Sadr's forces shelled the base with 21 mortars, injuring at least one Salvadoran soldier, said Col. Paul White, commander of the U.S. 2nd Battalion, 37th Armored Regiment, which moved into the city. Also Monday, a British soldier was injured in a roadside bomb blast targeting a convoy in Basra, an occupation spokesman said. The soldier was part of a six-vehicle supply convoy that was targeted in the southeast of the British-controlled city. ** Bulgarian president survives shooting attack in Karbala*** Meanwhile, shots were fired at a motorcade carrying Bulgarian President Georgy Parvanov, who made an unannounced visit to Iraq Sunday, but there were no casualties, Bulgaria's BTA news agency reported. The incident took place on the road between the Polish base and the Bulgarian base in Karbala. Parvanov and Bulgarian army chief of staff General Nikola Kolev held talks in Iraq with US top administrator Paul Bremer and General Ricardo Sanchez, commander of the occupation's land forces in the country, the president's office said. Bulgaria maintains a 450-man contingent in Iraq under Polish command as part of the US-led occupation. **London under pressure to send additional troops*** London is holding talks with Washington and other occupation partners with regards to "filling the gap" left by the imminent pull out of Spanish troops from Iraq. British premier Tony Blair is under pressure from Washington to plug the gap left by Spain pulling out 1,300 troops from key areas, raising concerns British troops will be sent to trouble spots like Najaf. It has been suggested the United Kingdom could be asked for an extra 1,700 soldiers to help replace the Spanish contingent. In addition, there is speculation British troops could be dispatched to operate in more "hazardous" areas further north of their southern base of Basra. Britain currently has around 7,500 troops in Iraq. **New Iraqi flag design*** Meanwhile, Iraq's U.S.-picked leaders approved a new flag. The new flag is white, with two parallel blue strips across the bottom representing the rivers and a yellow stripe between them representing Iraq's Kurdish minority. Above the stripes is a blue crescent 'representing' Islam. But not everyone is happy with the decision, with one Council member saying that Iraq's leaders should wait for an elected government before changing the flag. "I think there are issues more important to concentrate on now than the changing of the flag," said Mahmud Uthman. Many people say that new design reminds them of Israeli flag. **PHOTO CAPTION*** Members of the Old Guard carry the casket of US soldier killed in Iraq, Monday, April 26, 2004. (AP)