Prominent Shiite Cleric Plans Rival Iraqi Government, U.S. Soldier Killed

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA8D47IAID.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Insurgents targeting the U.S. occupation of Iraq detonated explosives under a military convoy west of Baghdad on Friday, killing an American soldier. U.S. military engineers discovered another bomb in Baghdad but defused it.

Opposition also came on the political front. A prominent Shiite Muslim cleric called on Iraqis to oppose their new U.S.-appointed government and vowed to establish a rival council "of the righteous."

The Americans, meanwhile, celebrated victory by blowing up a towering statue of Saddam Hussein in the deposed dictator's hometown and seizing its head as a war trophy.

The attack on the convoy came Friday afternoon when a bomb was detonated by remote control at a traffic circle near the main bridge over the Euphrates River in Fallujah, a city west of Baghdad, according to Sgt. Amy Abbott, a military spokeswoman. She said a soldier from the 3rd Infantry Division died.

Shopkeeper Abdul Munin Ali, who was swimming in the Euphrates when he heard the explosion, said he saw four soldiers evacuated from the scene - three in ambulances and one by helicopter. But a Pentagon spokeswoman said the dead soldier was the only casualty.

more

[acmavm]

1. I thought the puppet regime the Bushcos put into place, personally

selected by that rocket scientist Bremer, was supposed to appease the Shi'ites? What went wrong this time boys?