NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2006 — 06-jan-apr — Viewing Item

Militants attack iraq fuel convoy Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/13548272.htm http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/special_packages/iraq/13548272.htm Posted on Wed, Jan. 04, 2006 Militants attack Iraq fuel convoy PATRICK QUINN Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq - Militants ambushed a convoy of 60 tanker trucks heading to Baghdad from Iraq's largest refinery Wednesday, destroying four of the vehicles and damaging 15 others, police said. The attack, by insurgents with rocket-propelled grenades and machine guns, came after the Beiji refinery had reopened Sunday after being closed since Dec. 18 because of threats against tanker drivers. The drivers began carrying fuel again this week after the government promised extra protection for the convoys. Three Iraqi army vehicles, which had been guarding the convoy, were also destroyed in the attack about 25 miles north of Baghdad, police Lt. Abdul Zahra Qassim said. A militant group, the Islamic army in Iraq, claimed responsibility. The claim was posted on an Internet site commonly used by militant groups and could not be independently verified. The claim said the group attacked "a convoy of tanker trucks and managed to burn and destroy 20 tankers. This was followed by the destruction of troops who were sent to rescue the tankers at Mishahida." Iraq's Cabinet said Monday the Beiji refinery had resumed supplies to Baghdad and other cities after the Iraqi army sent more troops to guard the tanker trucks. The Beiji closure contributed to a fuel crisis caused by an acute shortage due to Iraq's decreased refinery capacity. The crisis was compounded by government decision Dec. 18 to increase fuel prices and abolish some subsidies for oil products. The area near Beiji, 155 miles north of Baghdad, has in the past been a hotbed of the insurgency. The town is near Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown and the region where the former leader was arrested two years ago. At least one tanker was attacked with a roadside bomb earlier in the day just outside Tikrit and AP Television News video showed it awash in flames. On Tuesday , U.S. aircraft bombed a building near Beiji where suspected insurgents were hiding, killing seven people. The U.S. military said an unmanned aircraft spotted three people planting a roadside bomb Monday night near the town and that Navy F-14s were called in. The three left the road site and were traced to a nearby building - which was destroyed. It was unclear if Wednesday's attack on the tankers would again lead to a closure of the Beiji refinery. Price increases and shortages last week led to the resignation of the oil minister, protests in many cities and riots in oil-rich Kirkuk, where police shot and killed four people Sunday as demonstrators burned down a fuel station. Iraq oil exports have fared no better, and in December hit their lowest ever level since the war. Only 34.4 million barrels were exported last month, or about 1.1 million barrels per day - the lowest average since Iraq resumed exports after the U.S.-led invasion in March 2003. Almost all the oil was exported from Iraq's southern oil terminals because of continuing sabotage of the country's northern oil facilities.

130 dead in series of iraq attacks { December 2006 } 36 dead after blast in baghdad vegetable market 3800 executed in iraq first three months of 2006 65 thousand refugees flee sectarian violence 70 iraqis killed in spasm of violence { March 13 2006 } Air strikes target civilians { January 3 2006 } Apparent iraqi death squad discovered { February 17 2006 } Big assault has no contract with insurgents { March 17 2006 } Blast destroys golden dome of shiite shrine Blast hits sunni mosque in iraq Blast kills 16 near shiite mosque in baghdad Bomb explodes in crowded market Bomb kills 80 sunnis turns city against alqaeda Bombed sunni shrine is mistaken as shiite { February 24 2006 } Brits deny iran bombing allegations Cheney says iraq is not in civil war { February 2006 } Cost of war to pass 1 trillion { March 17 2006 } Fears of civil war after reprisals { February 23 2006 } Foreigners not civil war says US military Government bans traffic in baghdad Gunmen kill woman after car bomb hits sunni mosque { February 10 2006 } Gunmen posing as police kill sunnis in retaliation Insurgents posing as police attach shiite shrine { February 22 2006 } Iran says US and israel destroyed iraqi shrine Iraq abductors threaten to kill peace activists { January 29 2006 } Iraq blast kills 10 shiite leader delay parliament Iraq civil war to spread across middle east { March 19 2006 } Iraq politican blames foreign intelligence for shrine attack { February 24 2006 } Iraqis 700k christians celebrate easter Iraqis burn flag before prayer fri mar 10 2006 [jpg] Largest air assault since 2003 invasion 2006 mar Major january attacks kill 70 sunnis { January 6 2006 } Marines beat back sunni arab insurgents { March 2006 } Militants attack iraq fuel convoy Military asserts most iraq is peaceful { February 2006 } Over 100 iraqis killed in sectarian violence { February 24 2006 } Palestinians targeted in iraq Peace activist quaker slain in iraq { March 12 2006 } Police chief claims attack on alsadr to divide iraqis Political progress destabilized by another attack { March 13 2006 } Press says iraq near civil war after 68 killed Retaliation on sunnis after deliberate sectarian attempt Shiites pissed at US military raid on mosque Sister of iraqi vice president shot dead Suicide bomber kills 36 at funeral procession { January 4 2006 } Sunni chief seeks release of US reporter Sunni mosque bombed as iraqi tanks deploy in baghdad { February 27 2006 } Three explosions at shiite mosque in baghdad Troops cant find insurgents in major assault Unknown kidnapped briton freed by accident US commander says iraq crisis has passed { February 2006 } US military seizes iraqi reporter for guardian { January 9 2006 } US troops raid sunni clerical scholars group Young clerics call for american hatred { February 26 2006 } Files Listed: 54

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