WAR ON IRAK

Yahoonews: U.S. military will start shoot on sight to prevent future suicide attacks in Iraq

NEAR NAJAF, Iraq - Nervous U.S. troops, wary of more guerrilla-style attacks by Iraqis in civilian clothing, warned approaching drivers Sunday they will be shot if they do not leave the area.



After fierce fighting, coalition forces surrounded the Shiite Muslim holy city of Najaf in central Iraq (news - web sites) and were prepared — if so ordered — to go in and root out paramilitary forces whose stiff resistance has delayed the U.S. move on Baghdad.


U.S. forces have shut down all roads in the region north of Najaf — 160 kilometers (100 miles) south of Baghdad — and any driver who approaches a military checkpoint will be shot on sight if they fail to stop or turn around after being warned, said Lt. Col. Scott Rutter, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division.

"This is a completely new dimension," Rutter said. "It is very difficult to distinguish civilians from possible fighters."

The purpose of the strict new measure is to deter attacks like the one on Saturday, when a taxi exploded at a checkpoint north of Najaf.

The driver was ordered to get out of his car and to open the front and back hoods. The car exploded when the back hood was opened, killing the driver and four soldiers. It was the first known suicide attack since the invasion began.

Meanwhile, tighter security is being imposed to protect soldiers from further attacks. A new sign, in large Arabic letters, warns drivers: "Leave The Area or We Will Fire." Soldiers will shout a final warning to any vehicle that disregards the sign, and then they will open fire.

The U.S. military is serious about enforcement: On Sunday, officers opened fire on two vehicles that failed to stop as they approached the checkpoint. One person was killed.

The U.S. military acknowledges the restriction places a burden on innocent Iraqi civilians, but that soldier safety must come first.

"Die Usa halten sehr viel von der Genfer Konvention wenn sie vom bösen Saadam missachtet wird, für sie selbst gelten alle diese Regeln nicht. Die stören nur. Blöde das man die Leute ermorden muss die man doch eigentlich befreien wollte weil sie nicht befreien lassen wollen"