NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2005 — 05-jan-mar — Viewing Item

Iraqi insurgents blow top off historic momument { April 2 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1450722,00.html http://www.guardian.co.uk/Iraq/Story/0,2763,1450722,00.html Iraqi insurgents blow top off historic monument Rory Carroll in Baghdad and Krysia Diver in Stuttgart Saturday April 2, 2005 The Guardian Suspected insurgents yesterday blew up the top of a 9th-century Islamic minaret which is one of Iraq's most important heritage sites. The blast punched a two-metre hole in the Malwiya, a spiralling yellow sandstone architectural wonder towering 50 metres (170ft) over Samarra, a flashpoint town north of Baghdad. For centuries pilgrims and tourists have climbed the stairway winding up to the pinnacle. Built by Abbasid Caliph al-Motawakel in AD852, the structure appears on Iraq's 250-dinar bill. Witnesses said the explosion had happened shortly after two men descended from the top. A US military spokesman blamed insurgents and said there had been no coalition troops at the site yesterday. Residents said American snipers and Iraqi troops sometimes occupied the minaret. US-led troops took Samarra from insurgents in October. Last year a mortar blew a small hole in the tower. Iraq's fledgling security forces were boosted yesterday when influential Arab Sunni scholars and clerics urged their flock to join the police and army, reversing previous calls to boycott cooperation with the state. The 64-strong group told Sunnis they had a duty to prevent the country from falling into "the hands of those who have caused chaos, destruction and violated the sanctities". But the message warned against helping foreign troops to fight Iraqis. Meanwhile, a US military court in Weisbaden, Germany, dismissed from the army a captain accused of "playing god" in the killing of a wounded Iraqi, but did not impose a prison sentence. Rogelio Maynulet, 30, was found guilty of assault with intent to commit voluntary manslaughter, which carries a 10-year maximum sentence. He maintained that he had committed a "mercy killing" because he wanted to end a dying man's suffering. The defence had claimed that the shooting last May, near Kufa, was an "honourable" killing. The prosecution had sought a three-year jail sentence, arguing that this would send a strong message to other US troops.

012905b1_iraq_thevote 1 [jpg] 14 killed by car bomb outside shiite mosque { January 21 2005 } 17 die in iraq bombing 47 killed in suicide attack on mosul mosque { March 10 2005 } Anti war parent copes with marines death { March 21 2005 } Attack on mosque meant to create sectarian strife { January 21 2005 } Baghdad car bomb kills 14 iraqis at mosque Baghdad governor assassinated in street Car bomb kills 7 at wedding party Car bomb kills two soldiers one marine { March 26 2005 } Car bomb outside australian embassy kills two { January 19 2005 } Child with downs syndrome used in suicide attack Death toll rises to 1500 { March 3 2005 } Five killed in three baghdad car bombs General says insurgents probably downed british plane General warns of spectacular iraq plots for elections Insurgency proves tough to crack { January 26 2005 } Insurgents ambush iraqi police convoy after elections Insurgents attacks kill 33 around iraq Insurgents bomb polling places Insurgents killed about two dozen on election day { January 30 2005 } Insurgents land deadliest blow killing over 100 { February 28 2005 } Iraq insurgents can conduct 60 strikes daily Iraq insurgents increase explosive power Iraq says 80 militants killed in clash Iraqi insurgents blow top off historic momument { April 2 2005 } Iraqi police capture bombing mastermind Nine US troops killed in iraq { January 7 2005 } Nothern pipeline destroyed baghdad bomb kills two Rebels damage iraqi national treasure { April 1 2005 } Suicide bomber kills 15 at iraq police station { February 24 2005 } Two mosques bombed in baghdad Two suicide bombs kill 27 in iraq US bombs wrong house underreports civilian deaths US secret talks with insurgents in iraq { February 21 2005 } Files Listed: 35

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