Iraqis blame US for continuous fighting

An injured man is wheeled into al-Qadissiya hospital in Baghdad's Sadr City slum yesterday 2004 after being wounded during clashes between militiamen loyal to radical Iraqi Shiite Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr and US forces. Fighting raged on in Sadr's Baghdad stronghold for the sixth straight day. PHOTO: AFP

With his abdomen heavily bandaged and surviving on fluids, a pallid Mushatet says a US soldier shot him in the stomach on his way to buy groceries.

"I had stepped out to buy something for my home when suddenly I felt like I was electrocuted," said Mushatet, the sole wage-earner for a family of four.

"I fell to the ground and did not know what happened, but felt extreme pain in my stomach. And then I saw blood pumping out of my stomach and this American soldier standing across the street firing randomly."

Lying in a Sadr City hospital for the past four days, Mushatet has sworn his revenge, blaming US forces for the persistent violence in his impoverished neighbourhood.

"I am very angry and would definitely like to take my revenge. What had I done to get shot like this?" Mushatet asked, as his mother and aunt looked on helplessly at his bedside.

An ice-cream vendor, Mushatet had been prevented by his mother from opening his shop as tensions mounted in the district, a stronghold of radical militia leader Moqtada Sadr.

"Every day we used to see American tanks moving around, while the Mehdi Army was also gearing up, so there was alot of tension in the area," said Mushatet's 45-year-old mother, Saleema.

"I forced him to stay at home for days. I told him not to open the shop as it was dangerous. But see what happened. It is our fate, he is the sole earner for the family."

Mushatet's father is elderly. His elder brother is unemployed and suffering from a serious illness, Saleema said, blaming herself and the Americans for her son's trauma.

"I just told him to buy some groceries for the house, so he stepped out and was shot mercilessly. The fight is between the Americans and Sadr's army, but why shoot young innocent boys?" she asked, tears in her bloodshot eyes.

"Please do something about it. Tell the world about this. We need help."

The fate of 30-year-old housewife Nidal Jassen was little different.

Shot in her left thigh last Thursday, Jassem blames US soldiers for the violence in Sadr City.

"It was around 1:00 pm (0900 GMT). I was with my children in my home when there was loud noise of gunfire outside.

"Instinctively, I ran out to look and saw an American soldier shooting from his vehicle. Before I could step back, I was shot in my leg."