Explosives-Laden Truck Rams Kirkuk Police Station
A truck laden with explosives has rammed into a police station in Iraq's Kirkuk district, killing two people and wounding at least 40 others.
Tuesday's attack is the latest incident in one of the fiercest waves of violence to hit the country in years. On Sunday, at least 34 people died in Ramadi during fierce fighting between Iraqi security forces and al Qaida-linked Islamist fighters. Government forces followed up with an air strike on Ramadi.
On Monday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said a military offensive against al Qaida-linked militants could be launched on the besieged city of Fallujah within days and urged residents and tribes in the city to "expel" the militants in order to preempt such an action. The statement has prompted dozens of families to flee the city.
Also Monday, the United States reaffirmed its support for Iraq in its fight against the militants and said it will accelerate U.S. military sales and deliveries to the nation.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the U.S. would send more surveillance drones and Hellfire missiles to Iraq this year but that Iraq must take the lead and handle the conflict itself.
Fallujah, in Sunni-dominated Anbar province, is now surrounded by Iraqi government troops. Maliki, a Shi'ite whose government has little support in Sunni Fallujah, says he has ordered security forces not to strike residential areas.
Violence between Iraq's Shi'ite-led government and the Sunni minority has killed thousands over the last year.
The Sunnis accuse the government of ignoring their needs and shoving them to the political sidelines. Iraqi officials accuse the Sunnis of involvement in terrorism.
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/explosivesladen-truck-rams-kirkuk-police-station/1824839.html
Tuesday's attack is the latest incident in one of the fiercest waves of violence to hit the country in years. On Sunday, at least 34 people died in Ramadi during fierce fighting between Iraqi security forces and al Qaida-linked Islamist fighters. Government forces followed up with an air strike on Ramadi.
On Monday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said a military offensive against al Qaida-linked militants could be launched on the besieged city of Fallujah within days and urged residents and tribes in the city to "expel" the militants in order to preempt such an action. The statement has prompted dozens of families to flee the city.
Also Monday, the United States reaffirmed its support for Iraq in its fight against the militants and said it will accelerate U.S. military sales and deliveries to the nation.
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the U.S. would send more surveillance drones and Hellfire missiles to Iraq this year but that Iraq must take the lead and handle the conflict itself.
Fallujah, in Sunni-dominated Anbar province, is now surrounded by Iraqi government troops. Maliki, a Shi'ite whose government has little support in Sunni Fallujah, says he has ordered security forces not to strike residential areas.
Violence between Iraq's Shi'ite-led government and the Sunni minority has killed thousands over the last year.
The Sunnis accuse the government of ignoring their needs and shoving them to the political sidelines. Iraqi officials accuse the Sunnis of involvement in terrorism.
fuente: La Voz de América, http://www.voanews.com/content/explosivesladen-truck-rams-kirkuk-police-station/1824839.html
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