BAGHDAD, 15 August 2003 — The top US soldier in Iraq said yesterday his army apologized to Shiite Muslims in Baghdad over a clash that left an Iraqi dead and sent thousands of protesters into the streets railing against occupation.
A letter of apology, given to Shiite clerics for the incident prompted by the removal of a religious flag from a communications tower, also promised to punish the soldiers responsible. “In fact there has been an apology issued by the commander on the ground because of the incident that blew down that flag, and our investigation continues at this point,” Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez told reporters.
“Apparently the helicopter either blew down the flag or somehow that flag was taken down, and we are taking steps to ensure that doesn’t happen again. “Our intention is not to alienate the Shiite people,” Sanchez added. “We deeply regret what happened today (Wednesday),” said the letter signed by Christopher Hoffman of the 2nd Armored Cavalry Regiment.
On Wednesday, US troops fired into a crowd of thousands of demonstrators who took to the streets after an American helicopter apparently tried to remove a black religious flag from a communications tower. The army said it had been attacked with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), guns and stones. “An RPG was fired also from the crowd,” Sanchez explained. “Our unit returned fire, and they wound up killing the RPG gunner and they wounded four others.”
The incident took place in Sadr City, Baghdad’s poor and predominantly Shiite district known as Saddam City during the dictator’s reign. The letter of apology said “what happened was a mistake and was not directed against the people of Sadr City. Sheikh Qais al-Kazali, who gave the letter to AFP and said he was deputy secretary to firebrand anti-occupation Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr warned that the people of Sadr City were furious over what happened and could retaliate if further provoked. “We are ready to defend our religion. I heard that there are people here who are preparing mines and suicide explosive belts, and others are ready to use RPGs. We have difficulties controlling the people..”
Iraq’s top Shiite religious authority, the Hawza, yesterday dismissed a message purported to be from Saddam Hussein that called for Shiites to wage “jihad,” or holy war, against the US and British occupiers. “This message is in vain,” said Mohammed Al-Khaqani, secretary of Grand Ayatollah Ali Al-Sistani, a top Shiite cleric.
In other developments, the Governing Council said yesterday it wants the United Nations to recognize it as Iraq’s official representative when the Security Council votes on a US resolution on the status of the interim administration. The Security Council was set to vote later yesterday on a resolution that would acknowledge but not formally recognize Iraq’s interim government.
Embassies Reopening: Iraq will reopen its embassies in London, Washington and five Arab countries in the coming days, the top official in Iraq’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.
