yahya ayash
01-12-03, 14:14
SAMARRA, Iraq (Reuters) - American troops killed 46 guerrillas in a fierce battle to fight off coordinated ambushes on convoys delivering money to banks in the tense Iraqi town of Samarra, the U.S. military said on Monday.
But there was confusion over the true death toll and, among some, skepticism over the figures given by the U.S. military.
Doctors at the town's hospital said they knew of only six people killed in the firefight that raged for most of Sunday afternoon in Samarra, 100 km (62 miles) north of Baghdad. Police put the toll at eight, including an Iranian pilgrim. :loog:
But Colonel Frederick Rudesheim, commander of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said the testimony of those involved in the battle suggested 46 attackers were killed. The Army had earlier said the death toll was 54.
"I caution you again, the adversary we face in this area will not bring all the casualties to the local hospitals," Rudesheim told reporters at the U.S. base in Samarra.
Rudesheim said some of the attackers wore the black clothing and headscarves of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s feared Fedayeen militia. He said 11 guerrillas were captured and were being questioned.
Several burned-out cars littered the streets of the town, a hotbed of anti-U.S. anger, and dried blood stained the dust outside one mosque.
But there was confusion over the true death toll and, among some, skepticism over the figures given by the U.S. military.
Doctors at the town's hospital said they knew of only six people killed in the firefight that raged for most of Sunday afternoon in Samarra, 100 km (62 miles) north of Baghdad. Police put the toll at eight, including an Iranian pilgrim. :loog:
But Colonel Frederick Rudesheim, commander of the U.S. 4th Infantry Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team, said the testimony of those involved in the battle suggested 46 attackers were killed. The Army had earlier said the death toll was 54.
"I caution you again, the adversary we face in this area will not bring all the casualties to the local hospitals," Rudesheim told reporters at the U.S. base in Samarra.
Rudesheim said some of the attackers wore the black clothing and headscarves of Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s feared Fedayeen militia. He said 11 guerrillas were captured and were being questioned.
Several burned-out cars littered the streets of the town, a hotbed of anti-U.S. anger, and dried blood stained the dust outside one mosque.