BAGHDAD,
June 1 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - One U.S. soldier and two
Iraqis were killed in a grenade attack on a U.S. tank in central Baghdad
Sunday, June 1, Al-Jazeera satellite channel reported.
“One
American soldier was shot dead in the attack on a U.S. armored vehicle
before Abu Hanifa mosque in Aazamiya district, and in the ensuing fire
exchange two Iraqi passers-by were shot down,” the channel’s
correspondent said.
The
correspondent quoted eyewitnesses as saying that another American
soldier was also killed in the clashes.
“Two
other U.S. soldiers were wounded in the same assault near Abu Hanifa
mosque in the neighborhood,” she added, giving no clue to the identity
of the attackers.
The
Al-Jazeera correspondent complained that the U.S. forces pointed arms at
- laid siege to - the channel’s four-member team at the scene of the
attack.
Arms
Call Snubbed
The
attack on the U.S. forces came as Iraqis ignored a demand to turn in
their weapons Sunday as the U.S.-led administration began a two-week
countdown to the imposition of new firearm controls in a bid to stem
post-war lawlessness.
None
of the collection points in the capital reported any weapons had been
handed in Sunday, despite three days of announcements on coalition
radio, Agence France-Presse (AFP) reported.
Under
the new rules, all heavy weapons must be turned in but Iraqis will be
allowed to retain pistols, shotguns and rifles up to 7.62 mm calibre for
self-defense, provided they do not take them out of their homes and
businesses.
That
will let them keep the ubiquitous Kalashnikov or AK-47, the favored
weapon of most Iraqis.
Anyone
wanting to carry arms on the street will need a special permit from the
occupation administration, which has laid down detailed procedures for
weapons surrenders to prevent coalition troops mistaking them for armed
attacks.
Sergeant
First Class Chris Rhett tried to put a brave face on the lack of
interest from Iraqis.
"We
won't get a big rush of weapons till close to the end," he said.
"I would hope it will pick up before then.
"We
are going to be putting more posters and leaflets out. I don't think
we've got as many out as we need to."
The
Iraqis echoed fears that the arms control might be an attempt to prevent
any resistance to what they think a long-term occupation of their
oil-rich country. More than 20 U.S. forces were killed in separate
incidents amid a flare-up of anti-American sentiments.
The
sentiments are further boiling in many parts of the country, with
house-to-house searches usually justified as an effort to restore order
in the war-torn country. Thousands of Iraqis took to the streets of
Iraq's southern capital here Sunday, June 1, to protest against the
installation of a British officer to rule the region.
"In
any case why would any self-respecting Iraqi want to turn in their
weapon to an American, particularly at a police station?" said one
Iraqi arms dealer.
Iraqis
said that obtaining weapons is as necessary as to keep themselves safe
from being attacked by thieves and looters who spread in the country
after the U.S. forces rolled into and declared the downfall of Saddam.
They complained of the U.S. military inaction to stop this anarchy.
Abbas
Hussein, who shows off two bullet wounds in his right foot, the legacy
of a robbery on Friday evening in which he lost 25 dollars, said he had
no intention of looking to the Americans for security.
"If
I need protection, I'll go buy a gun," he said. "We can't
expect foreigners to save us from other Iraqis."
For
Ali Mahsen, there is only one way to control the gangs who operate out
of squats in bombed-out buildings across the city. "Bring back
Saddam's state security people," he said.
"Saddam
never needed to take our guns away, he knew how to maintain law and
order."
