Jay Deshmukh
Sudan Bureau Chief for Agence France Presse (AFP) based in Khartoum.
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/ 21 October 2007

US forces kill 49 in Baghdad Shi’ite stronghold

United States forces killed 49 ”criminals” in fierce fighting with militants in Baghdad’s Shi’ite stronghold of Sadr City on Sunday during a raid targeting an Iranian-linked insurgent. Medics at four hospitals confirmed 17 dead, including a boy and a girl, but US military spokesperson Major Winfield Danielson said there were no civilian casualties and no reports of American losses.

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/ 22 August 2007

‘Screams of pain and bloody blankets’

A former Iraqi lawmaker gave chilling testimony of torture and beatings at the trial on Wednesday of 15 aides of executed dictator Saddam Hussein, including the notorious ”Chemical Ali”, who are accused of crimes against humanity. ”I heard screams of pain as prisoners were beaten and tortured,” the witness said.

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/ 13 August 2007

US mounts major Iraq assault

United States troops in Iraq launched a major assault against al-Qaeda-linked militants and alleged Iranian-aided extremist groups on Monday as a Sunni leader accused Iran of plotting genocide against his people. Operation Phantom Strike, the military announced, was being waged nationwide to disrupt Shi’ite extremist networks and insurgents affiliated to al-Qaeda.

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/ 18 July 2007

US arrests Bin Laden link in Iraq

United States forces have arrested a top Iraqi militant who acted as a link between al-Qaeda’s Iraqi offshoot and Osama bin Laden, the global jihadist network’s Saudi founder, the US military said on Wednesday. Brigadier General Kevin Bergner said American troops had arrested Khaled al-Mashhadani on July 4 in the northern city of Mosul.