Fearing new clashes, Iraqis quit rebel city

Ramadi (Iraq), May 30: Frequent clashes and new checkpoints have made residents of Ramadi nervous and the sight of U.S. marine snipers on rooftops has prompted some to flee in fear of a new U.S.

offensive against Sunni insurgents.

People in Iraq's most volatile town said about 50 families, around 300 people, have already abandoned streets and alleyways where Sunni Arab rebels open fire on U.S. patrols.

There have been no public suggestions from the U.S. military that a large-scale offensive is expected. But Iraqis, whose simple tasks like shopping for food are often dictated by the pace of fighting, are not taking any chances.

Clashes have prompted some residents to take refuge in schools on the outskirts of Ramadi, 110 km west of Baghdad.

Abu Omar started to worry when marines started setting up new checkpoints in Ramadi, a main stronghold for Sunni rebels seeking to thwart the Shi'ite-led, U.S.-backed government.

Then, he said, he noticed the snipers and began to fear Ramadi might see an operation similar to that in nearby Falluja 18 months ago, when U.S. forces used aircraft, artillery and infantry to destroy what had been an insurgent bastion.

Smaller towns along the Euphrates river from the Syrian border, like Qaim and Haditha, saw intense fighting last year.

''We cannot stay any more. U.S. forces have segmented the city and put snipers on high buildings,'' said Abu Omar, 45, who has turned the Rumaila school on the outskirts of the city into a residence for his wife and five children.

A spokesman for the U.S. forces in Ramadi declined detailed comment on operations and plans but said there were more Iraqi police and troops on the streets of the city and that patrols and checkpoints were intended to bring security for residents.

''What has increased is the Iraqi security force presence on the streets of Ramadi, particularly Iraqi police,'' Second Lieutenant Brian Donnelly said by e-mail.

''Coalition forces sympathise with peaceful Iraqi citizens who want to live normal lives. Our main responsibilities are to provide the security necessary for that to happen and to train and mentor Iraqi security forces to eventually provide security.''

POLITICAL PROCESS

The United States is hoping that Sunni participation in last December's election will draw members of the Sunni minority once dominant under Saddam Hussein into peaceful politics. But Ramadi, the capital of the Sunni rebel heartland of Anbar province, seems a world away from meetings between politicians in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone.

Residents say insurgents with AK-47 assault rifles and rocket-propelled grenades have recently launched more brazen attacks targeting U.S. troops and the governorate building where they hope democracy will flourish.

Abed al-Mahalawi moved to Ramadi from Qaim, another trouble spot near the Syrian border, but quickly realised his hometown was less risky: ''I thought it is safer here, but I was mistaken. The situation in the past week is getting worse. Clashes all day,'' said Mahalawi, 31, who is planning to return to Qaim.

Iraqis who choose not to join the insurgency have little clout in Ramadi, which is just beside a major U.S. base.

Some residents like Raad Atallah said they asked the insurgents to fight their battles elsewhere and spare the town death and destruction but they refused to go.

''I left the city days ago,'' he said from a village to the north of Ramadi, where he had fled with his family.

This month, the military said U.S. and Iraqi forces killed more than 100 insurgents in Anbar following attacks involving multiple suicide car bombs, heavy machineguns and rocket-propelled grenades which appeared closely coordinated.

The Anbar governor also survived an assassination attempt unharmed, but 10 other civilians were killed.

''It's not safe any more. Every day there are clashes and we feel there may be something bigger soon,'' said Ahmad Ibrahim, 26.

REUTERS

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