AP Photographer Flees Fallujah
US Snipers Slaughter Civilians Crossing Euphrates
By Katarina Kratovac
Associated Press Writer
11-14-4
BAGHDAD, Iraq - In the weeks before the crushing military assault on
his hometown, Bilal Hussein sent his parents and brother away from
Fallujah to stay with relatives.
The 33-year-old Associated Press photographer stayed behind to capture
insider images during the siege of the former insurgent stronghold.
"Everyone in Fallujah knew it was coming. I had been taking pictures
for days," he said. "I thought I could go on doing it."
In the hours and days that followed, heavy bombing raids and
thunderous artillery shelling turned Hussein's northern Jolan
neighborhood into a zone of rubble and death. The walls of his house
were pockmarked by coalition fire.
"Destruction was everywhere. I saw people lying dead in the streets,
wounded were bleeding and there was no one to come and help them. Even
the civilians who stayed in Fallujah were too afraid to go out," he
said.
"There was no medicine, water, no electricity nor food for days."
By Tuesday afternoon, as U.S. forces and Iraqi rebels engaged in
fierce clashes in the heart of his neighborhood, Hussein snapped.
"U.S. soldiers began to open fire on the houses, so I decided that it
was very dangerous to stay in my house," he said.
Hussein said he panicked, seizing on a plan to escape across the
Euphrates River, which flows on the western side of the city
"I wasn't really thinking," he said. "Suddenly, I just had to get out.
I didn't think there was any other choice."
In the rush, Hussein left behind his camera lens and a satellite
telephone for transmitting his images. His lens, marked with the
distinctive AP logo, was discovered two days later by U.S. Marines
next to a dead man's body in a house in Jolan.
AP colleagues in the Baghdad bureau, who by then had not heard from
Hussein in 48 hours, became even more worried.
Hussein moved from house to house " dodging gunfire " and reached the
river.
"I decided to swim ... but I changed my mind after seeing U.S.
helicopters firing on and killing people who tried to cross the
river."
He watched horrified as a family of five was shot dead as they tried
to cross. Then, he "helped bury a man by the river bank, with my own
hands."
"I kept walking along the river for two hours and I could still see
some U.S. snipers ready to shoot anyone who might swim. I quit the
idea of crossing the river and walked for about five hours through
orchards."
He met a peasant family, who gave him refuge in their house for two
days. Hussein knew a driver in the region and sent a message to
another AP colleague, Ali Ahmed, in nearby Ramadi.
Ahmed relayed the news that Hussein was alive to AP's Baghdad bureau.
He sent a second message back to Hussein that a fisherman in nearby
Habaniyah would ferry the photographer to safety by boat.
"At the end of the boat ride, Ali was waiting for me. He took me to
Baghdad, to my office."
Sitting safely in the AP's offices, a haggard-looking Hussein offered
a tired smile of relief.
"It was a terrible experience in which I learned that life is
precious," he said. "I am happy that I am still alive after being
close to death during these past days."
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| User: "Woodswun" |
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| Title: Re: US soldiers open up on civilians |
15 Nov 2004 04:45:44 PM |
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In article <rdfhp09drjai61cirgnrb9s5g9kj3no05k@4ax.com>, wrote:
AP Photographer Flees Fallujah
US Snipers Slaughter Civilians Crossing Euphrates
By Katarina Kratovac
Associated Press Writer
Zak,
Could you please post the URLs for these stories? If we can't confirm them on,
say, the AP site, we'll have to ignore them as being erroneous/fictitious.
thanks,
Woods
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| User: "TonyZ2001" |
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| Title: Re: US soldiers open up on civilians |
16 Nov 2004 08:31:14 AM |
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woodswun@tepidmail.com
wrote:
Could you please post the URLs for these stories? If we can't confirm them
on,
say, the AP site, we'll have to ignore them as being erroneous/fictitious.
thanks,
Woods
She speaks like a friend to the most vile of Terrorist supporters.
LOL!!!
Tony
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