Another Day In Iraq: American Dies, British Soliders Attacked, French Civilians Killed

Hundreds of men gathered in front of three banks in Basra after being told their salaries had not been received.

They said they have not been paid since September, when they received a $150 one-off payment for three months' wages.

British troops were pelted with stones as they tried to quell the disturbance.

Iraqi police fired on the crowd, injuring at least four people.

Ahmad Abdul Aziz, a former army officer, said: "We are bread-earners and have families and want to feed our families.

"Which is better, armed conflict or getting our rights peacefully?"

Witnesses said the four injured were taken to hospital and British army tanks took up position near the banks.

Iraq's US governor Paul Bremer abolished the 400,000-strong Iraqi army in May.

The United States is recruiting and training an army which will number about 40,000, along with larger numbers of police and border guards.

http://www.itv.com/news/697000.html

FRENCHMEN KILLED IN IRAQ

Two French nationals have been killed and a third wounded in a drive-by shooting in the Iraqi town of Fallujah.

Diplomats said the victims were driving in a convoy in the city west of the capital when their car broke down and occupants of a passing vehicle opened fire.

They had been in Iraq working for US companies rebuilding infrastructure in and around the capital Baghdad, French foreign ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said.

Several foreign citizens have been killed in attacks by guerrillas opposed to US-led occupying forces that deposed former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.

Two Japanese diplomats and seven Spanish intelligence officers were gunned down in Iraq in separate attacks in November.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1117982,00.html

Reservist Dies After Suffering Burns in Iraq Attack

Friends and family are mourning the death of a White County soldier serving in Iraq.

Luke Frist, a 20-year-old from Brookston, died Monday from severe burns he received after his fuel-truck came under attack in Iraq last Friday.

Specialist Luke Frist was a 2001 graduate from Tri-County High School. His picture hangs on the school's hero wall of fame. "They put up [pictures of] all of our youngsters who are in service now overseas are on our hero hall of fame,” said Gary Vandergriff, Tri-County Principal. "We're proud of all of the and hope no one else gets hurt."

Frist was a member of Lafayette's 209th Quartermaster Company. He was deployed to Iraq nearly a year ago. At the time, he was driving a fuel tanker in a convoy when it was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade.

"This was his dream. This is what he wanted to do since he was little. He loved his job and he loved his country,” said John Rayman, a friend.

"Just an all-around fine young man. Positive attitude, came from a very fine family and we just are all of Tri-County community and high school are very much hold him in our hearts and our minds,” said Vandergriff.

Frist's parents flew to Germany Saturday to be with him and they also accompanied him to Brooke Army Hospital in San Antonio when he was transferred there Sunday. Funeral arrangements are still pending.

http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=1587506&nav=0Ra7Jzmu

Four US Soldiers, Iraqi Prosecutor Wounded In Iraq

BAGHDAD (AP)--A bomb exploded near a U.S. military convoy west of Baghdad, injuring three soldiers, and another U.S. soldier was shot and wounded when a foot patrol was ambushed northwest of the capital, the military said Monday.

Overnight, two mortar shells exploded in the vicinity of the coalition headquarters in the southern city of Nasiriyah, causing no damage or injuries. Sunday, insurgents ambushed a U.S. foot patrol in Tikrit, injuring one American soldier; and a bomb exploded as a U.S. convoy was passing in Beiji, wounding three U.S. soldiers.

All four injured soldiers were evacuated to combat support hospitals for treatment, the military said.

Witnesses reported that gunmen wounded coalition-appointed lawyer Mohammed al-Jawadi and his son in the northern city of Mosul on Monday morning. Sources at the local hospital said al-Jawadi, the general prosecutor of a newly established court to fight corruption, was in critical condition, but his son's life was not in danger.
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