Military

DATE=4/6/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE= IRAQ WRAP (S/L UPDATE)

NUMBER=2-314834

BYLINE=NICK SIMEONE

DATELINE=WASHINGTON

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

/// UPDATES INTRO OF CR 2-314831, WITH NEW REPORTS OF AMERICAN MARINES KILLED . NO OTHER CHANGES ///

INTRO: U-S military officials say as many as a dozen Marines may have been killed when Iraqi insurgents attacked their position in the town of Ramadi late Tuesday -- after a day of battles between American forces and Shiite militias in other parts of the country as well. V-O-A Correspondent Nick Simeone reports as many as 100 Iraqis have also been reported killed after three days of some of the worst fighting in Iraq in months.

TEXT: Again Tuesday, U-S forces in Baghdad battled militiamen loyal to Iraqi cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who is demanding occupation forces withdraw from populated areas. While his followers are vowing to continue the fight, U-S administrator in Iraq Paul Bremer is just as adamant that the cleric -- branded an outlaw by the United States -- will be arrested and tried for the murder of a rival Shiite figure a year ago.

/// BREMER ACT ///

I can assure you we will bring him to justice.

/// END ACT ///

Battles also erupted between Shiite militias and U-S forces in towns and cities in southern Iraq, unrest that threatens to open a new front in the U-S led Iraqi occupation less than 90 days before sovereignty is set to be handed back to the Iraq people.

/// REST FOR LONG ///

U-S forces also began an operation Tuesday -- code named Operation Vigilant Resolve -- in the town of Fallujah west of Baghdad. This American was among the columns of Marines involved in sealing off the Sunni stronghold as part of the hunt for those responsible for the deaths of four American civilians a week ago.

/// MARINE ACT ///

We're going to find these terrorists and we're going to take care of the problem.

/// END ACT ///

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld confirmed the raid was under way, telling reporters Marines know who they are looking for and that a number of people resisting arrest have already been killed.

/// RUMSFELD ACT ///

They have photographs of a good many people who were involved in the attacks against the individuals and they have been conducting raids in the city against high value targets. They've captured a number of people.

/// END ACT ///

U-S military commanders are now considering whether to ask for more troops to help put down what has been some of the worst violence across Iraq since the end of major combat operations nearly a year ago. And even though President Bush is sticking to the date of June 30th for returning sovereignty to the Iraqi people, others in Washington are beginning to question whether that date can hold if the current level of violence continues. (SIGNED)

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