The Washington Times
  • Subscribe
  • Times News Services
  • RSS
  • Mobile Headlines
  • e-edition
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • REGISTER
  • LOG IN
  • E-MAIL ALERTS
  • WELCOME
  • Your Profile
  • Log Out
  • Front Page Image
  • Classifieds
  • Autos
  • Real Estate
  • Jobs
  • Special Sections
  • Customer Service
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinion
  • Sports
    • NFL
    • NBA/WNBA
    • MLB
    • NHL
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • Motorsports
    • Soccer
    • NCAA
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Other
  • Culture
    • Home & Living
    • Family & Kids
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Washington Visitors
    • Books
    • Military History
    • Life
    • Auto
    • TV Listings
    • Movie Listings
    • Death Notices
    • Entertainment
  • Themes
  • Communities
  • Shopping
    • Stores
    • Coupons
    • Daily Double
    • Promotion
    • How It Works
  • Videos
    • Two Guys
    • Birnbaum on Washington
    • Liz Glover
    • Amanda Carpenter
    • Morning Briefing
    • Documentaries
    • Joe Giganti
    • Video Game Minute
  • Podcasts
    • About Headlines
    • Audio and Radio
    • America's Morning News
  • National

    VAN CLEAVE: A Thanksgiving message from Russia's spy agency

  • National

    HOLMES: Behind Obama's overseas allure

  • World

    Thailand seeks U.S. help battling insurgents

  • Politics

    Obama taking emissions goal to summit

  • Business

    Retailers bank on post-holiday Black Friday

  • World

    Corruption stain puts Pakistan leader at risk

  • Politics

    Courage the turkey escapes Obama's plate

Sunday, April 17, 2005

Troops raid Iraq town amid siege

Rate this story

Average 0.00
after 0 votes
Login or register to rate this story

  • Font Size -+
  • Print
  • Email
  • Comment
  • Tweet this!
  • Share
  • Article
  • Comments ()
  • Click-2-Listen
  • Videos

More Stories

  • IAEA: Iran investigation at 'dead end'
  • Swiss court grants Polanski bail
  • Couple skirts security to crash state dinner
  • Courage the turkey escapes Obama's plate

By

MADAIN, Iraq -- U.S. and Iraqi troops raided a central Iraqi town yesterday after Sunni militants took as many as 150 Shi'ite Muslims hostage and threatened to kill the captives if other Shi'ites did not leave town.

National Security Minister Qassem Dawoud said Madain, near Baghdad and in an area dubbed the "Triangle of Death" because of the frequency of terrorist attacks, was now under the control of Iraqi and U.S.-led multinational forces.

"They are raiding areas where it is suspected that hostages may be," he told Dubai-based Al Arabiya television.

Iraq's state-run Al Iraqiya television said the insurgents had threatened to kill the hostages within 24 hours, and a senior Shi'ite official in Baghdad said Iraqi and U.S.-led forces were expected to launch a major overnight rescue bid.

"The number of hostages is 150. They include women and children, according to police intelligence officials I have spoken with," said the official, asking not to be identified.

"Iraqi and Americans forces surrounding the town plan a big raid to rescue them tonight," he said.

Al Arabiya TV reported the rescue operation had already begun, but no independent confirmation was immediately available.

Earlier, officials said peaceful efforts to secure the release of the hostages, seized by insurgents carrying rocket-propelled grenades and AK-47s on Friday, had failed.

The insurgents had vowed to kill the hostages unless all Shi'ites left Madain, 15 miles southeast of Baghdad. The insurgents had entered Madain in 15 cars, and witnesses said there were no police or government forces around at the time.

"There are security problems in Madain with tribal implications. Some people are trying to use it to create sectarian strife," said Deputy Prime Minister Barham Salih.

12Next »

Post a comment

There are comments on this article, submit your opinion!

Commenting is disabled for this entry.
If you feel there is still something worth mentioning about this entry please contact the author or the site admin.

Ask a Question

You Report

Do you have another point of view, photos, audio, video or more information about a story?

Top Stories

Most Read

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. Top Republican lawmakers not attending State Dinner
  3. Fenty trails Gray in D.C. poll
  4. Conservatives seek test for RNC funds
  5. Food snobs fork over $225 for taste of heritage turkey
More Top Stories »
  1. Climate 'czar' says hacked e-mails don't change anything
  2. D.C. sports icon, Wizards owner Pollin dies
  3. List of W.H. state dinner guests
  4. PRUDEN: Obama's due process doctrine
  5. EDITORIAL: Obama's sacked inspector general

Most Shared

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. Climate 'czar' says hacked e-mails don't change anything
  3. EDITORIAL: The duty of a nation to obey God
  4. Grade-schooler unearths fossil at dinosaur park
  5. Climate czar rejects doctored data claims
More Top Stories »
  1. The global-cooling cover-up
  2. EDITORIAL: Kennedy vs. Catholicism
  3. The United Socialist States of America
  4. VAN CLEAVE: A Thanksgiving message from Russia's spy agency
  5. EDITORIAL: A call to prayer and repentance

Most Commented

  1. EDITORIAL: Hiding evidence of global cooling
  2. Climate 'czar' says hacked e-mails don't change anything
  3. Climate czar rejects doctored data claims
  4. EDITORIAL: Obama's sacked inspector general
  5. Ky. hanging, ruled a suicide, leaves bloggers at loss for words
More Top Stories »
  1. Obama to attend Denmark climate summit
  2. A-listers, fundraisers at W.H. state dinner
  3. EDITORIAL: Kennedy vs. Catholicism
  4. PRUDEN: Obama's due process doctrine
  5. Conservatives seek test for RNC funds

Listen to Washington Times Radio

  • America's Morning News

    with John McCaslin and Melanie Morgan

Blogs & Columns

  • Hot Button Blog

    RNC: Breast cancer recommendations may lead to 'rationing'

  • Belief Blog

    Evangelicals OK civil disobedience

  • Out of Context

    Foods that might kill libido

  • On the Fly

    United lifts some 'award' blocking

  • Technology

    Facebook wins round against phishing spammer

  • Redskins 360

    Redskins matchup

  • SNOBlog

    Beyond 'Woody'

Videos

Advertising Links
TWT Store
  • e-edition
  • Print Edition
  • Weekly Washington Times
TWT Affiliates
  • Middle East Times
  • Golf
  • UPI
  • Arbor Ballroom
  • Washington Times Global
  • About TWT
  • Press Room
  • F.A.Q.
  • Work for TWT
  • Advertise
  • Sponsors
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Site Map

All site contents © Copyright 2009 The Washington Times, LLC.