Iraqi Power Workers Decry Attacks

Hundreds of power workers shouting, “No, no to terror!” marched through Baghdad on Thursday to protest attacks that have killed dozens of their colleagues.

Lined up behind a black banner with the names of slain workers, protesters demanded an end to attacks on electricity stations and oil pipelines, targets in an insurgent effort to weaken the economy and undermine the U.S.-led coalition and interim government.

Earlier, in Rabia, police mistook some Iraqi soldiers who were wearing civilian clothes and carrying guns to be insurgents and opened fire, killing three, Police Chief Ahmed Mohammed Khalaf said.

The soldiers shot back, killing two police officers. Eight officers also were wounded in the gun battle, which lasted about 10 minutes.

The fighting came a day after Iraqi officials reported that police backed by U.S. forces had killed 84 rebel fighters Tuesday at an insurgent training camp.

Accounts continued to indicate a major battle involving dozens of insurgents northwest of Baghdad. But U.S. military officials said Thursday that no bodies had been found by American troops who arrived at the scene.

“I can’t confirm the estimate,” said Maj. Richard Goldenberg, spokesman for the 42nd Infantry Division. By the time additional U.S. ground forces arrived, he said, “the insurgent forces who had fled

Noting that an Islamic militant group had said 11 insurgents were killed, Goldenberg said, “I would tell you that somewhere between 11 and 80 lies an accurate number.”

After nightfall, a large explosion was heard near a joint U.S.-Iraqi military camp 25 miles north of Baghdad, followed by gunfire. U.S. military officials confirmed there had been an attack, but no major damage was reported. No other details were available.

In the United States, the Army said Thursday that it had reopened an investigation into the suspected bludgeoning death of a key Iraqi government scientist in American custody, a chemist who allegedly had experimented with poisons on prisoners when Saddam Hussein was president.

Mohammed Alazmirli, 65, is the only known weapons scientist among at least 96 detainees who have died in U.S. custody in Iraq. His body was dropped off at a Baghdad hospital in February 2004, two weeks after he died.

The Pentagon would not comment on the timetable or direction of the inquiry.