Gunmen Ambush Sadr City Mayor

Target was key figure in U.S. efforts to disarm militia, create jobs
By J. Kelman,  Newser User
Posted Mar 16, 2007 12:07 PM CDT
Gunmen Ambush Sadr City Mayor
An Iraqi boy shakes hands with a US soldier patrolling in Sadr...    (Getty Images)

The mayor of Sadr City was wounded and his police chief killed in an ambush yesterday, creating new challenges for the U.S. military effort to bring security to the Shiite stronghold and rein in the Mahdi Army. The mayor, Rahim al-Daraji, has been a key figure in negotiating with American officials to disarm the militia.

U.S. forces moved into Sadr City this month and are setting up two garrisons there as part of a strategy to be interact more with the people of Baghdad by moving into hot zones. "Indicators are they'll do real well," Maj. Gen. Joseph F. Fil Jr. said of the 100 planned garrisons. (More Iraq stories.)

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