US and Iraqi soldiers in security sweep in Baghdad's Sadr City

Описание: (5 Mar 2007)

Sadr City - Baghdad
1. Iraqi army humvee and US armoured vehicle stationed at one of the entrances to Sadr City in Baghdad
2. Various of US and Iraqi troops in area

Zayouna - Baghdad
3. Tracking shot of US army humvees driving down street
4. Iraqi police Major General Ali Hadi Al-Yasiri walking with high ranking police officers
5. Major General Al-Yasiri shaking hands with shopkeeper
6. Major General Al-Yasiri walking into shop
7. Major general Al-Yasiri looking around shop
8. Street outside of shop
9. Various of Major General Al-Yasiri with other police officers
10. Street traffic in eastern Baghdad

STORYLINE

Hundreds of US soldiers entered the Shiite stronghold of Sadr City on Sunday in the first major push into the area since an American-led security sweep began last month around Baghdad.

According to Lieutenant Colonel David Oclander, soldiers met with no resistance as they conducted house-to-house searches in the district known to be firmly in the hands of the Mahdi Army militia led by radical cleric Muqtada Al-Sadr.

The move into Sadr City came following negotiations with political leaders in the neighbourhood.

Major General William Caldwell, a US military spokesman, told Arab news channel Al-Arabiya that US officials have had daily dialogue with community leaders in Sadr City.

Caldwell said joint Iraqi and American troops are cooperating with the head of the Sadr City council adding that there is no problem between the two sides, both are trying to set up a small security centre in Sadr City considered by many to be Muqtada Al-Sadr's stronghold.

Al-Sadr withdrew his militia under intense pressure from the government, but there were worries that a large-scale military push without political clearance could bring a backlash and jeopardise the entire security effort.

Meanwhile Police Major-General Ali Hadi al-Yasiri visited the Zayouna neighbourhood of eastern Baghdad as part of the major security crackdown launched in the city over recent weeks.

Al-Yasiri toured the area on Monday and talked with residents and shopkeepers about the current security conditions.

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