Iraq Press Roundup

Shebab Al Iraq newspaper Wednesday carried an editorial with the headline "Who is responsible for the atrocities in Sadr City?"

The editorial said mortar shells were launched at the "fortified" Green Zone from the area around the main hospital in Sadr City, east of Baghdad. It said the response from U.S. forces was fast: Planes fired missiles at the direction from which the shells were launched.

"The causalities were eight dead and 20 injured. Many houses were destroyed, the hospital was partially damaged, and many ambulances and about 20 civilian cars parked near the hospital were damaged," it said.

The editorial accused the Mehdi Army, loyal to Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, of starting the fights and causing the deaths of many civilians. It said Shiite attackers used residential areas as bases in order to prevent retaliation from Iraqi or U.S. forces.

"Attacks and responses to such attacks have been happening every day, causing a thousand civilian dead and several thousands of wounded," it said.

Shebab Al Iraq said eyewitness testimony said Mehdi Army fighters used public parks, squares and crowded areas as bases to launch mortars at the Green Zone. It said the Mehdi Army aims to increase casualties, assuming it angers residents of Sadr City and the rest of Baghdad toward U.S. forces and the Iraqi government.

The paper said Sadr City residents are arranging for a protest against the Mehdi Army because of civilian losses and property damage.

"Today, the people of Sadr City have crossed the line of fear they have always had from the Mehdi Army, and started to lift roadside bombs Mehdi Army fighters plant in front of their houses," it said.

It said Sadr City residents also blame the Iraqi government for the destruction in Sadr City as it responds by attacking the most crowded part of Sadr City when the Mehdi Army attacks the Green Zone.

"The civilians who are caught in the middle of fighting and attacks accuse Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of letting the Mehdi Army militia control the city of about 4 million people, bringing hardship," it said.