Karbala Late Night Update
Karbala is surrounded by green zone government army and police forces who besieging the city, the siege tightened with the arrival of more troops coming from Baghdad and other governorates. They are being backed by American forces. A spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior said that they will arrest or kill any armed person unless he immediately puts down his weapon and warned that the government forces will take control of the city and will “deal firmly” with gunmen.
Earlier in the day the commander of the green zone forces in Karbala was removed from his post by the green zone government defense minister.
“The Defense Minister ordered his dismissal from his post as commander of Karbala because of the deteriorating security situation and [the] lack of control over the situation in the city”
He has been replaced by the governor.
Fighting is continuing in Karbala itself at least two green zone government soldiers have been killed by sniper fire. Also 4 hotels are on fire. There is fire near the shrine of Imam Abbas. Considerable damage is reported to the wall of the shrine of Imam Hussein. There is very intense fighting going on near the home of a local JAM commander. JAM fighters are deployed throughout the quarter and are armed with machine guns and missilie launchers according to the telephone report given by almelaf.
update:
The Green zone government reinforcement forces sent by the interior minister at the order of Nouri Al Maliki have entered the city tanks, APCs, are deployed on the city streets within the vicinity of the Holy places. The green zone government forces have taken Imam Hussein’s shrine and pilgrims who were trapped inside have been permitted to flee. Fighting continues.
update 2:
Medical sources in the city’s hospitals say there are so many wounded that they are being treated in the corridors and the hospital grounds.
Related developments:
6 SIIC (SCIRI) offices have now been burnt down during fighting. The 6th such attack was in Hillah at least 5 people have been killed and 20 wounded during these clashes. Hilla is now under curfew.
update 3:
Ambulances have been unable to reach the scene of fighting – the area between the two shrines. Dead and wounded are being left were they lie. 7 Ambulances have crashed trying to bring out victims. Green zone government reinforcements are entering the city from the East and south.
[...] Updates 1 -3 are here [...]
[...] clashed in the holy city of Karbala. There appears to be many more casualties not yet reported, as local hospitals are being overwhelmed with [...]
Chaos in Karbala…
The Liberal Avenger
At least 51 are dead and another 200 wounded as rival militias clashed in the holy city of Karbala. There appears to be many more casualties not yet reported, as local hospitals are being overwhelmed with casualties.
The fightin…