Wednesday, September 13, 2006
60 bodies found in Baghdad
Security
Police said on Wednesday that 60 bodies had been found scattered across Baghdad. Most of the bodies were found in the predominantly Sunni western part of the town and others in the mainly Shia area east of the Tigris. Most of the bodies had been bound, tortured and shot. Police have not been able to identify any of the bodies, let alone whether they are Shia or Sunni, but this is a large number of bodies to be found in a 24-hour period. Police have been unable to explain the seemingly sudden increase in sectarian killings.
A roadside bomb exploded during rush hour on Wednesday near the national sports stadium in the eastern Shaab distriuct of Baghdad, killing at least 10 people and wounding 33, officials say. There were reports of a second blast.
A roadside bomb exploded during rush hour on Wednesday near the national sports stadium in the eastern Shaab distriuct of Baghdad, killing at least 10 people and wounding 33, officials say. There were reports of a second blast.
On Monday evening gunmen attacked the only Shia mosque in Bani Saad, 35 miles northeast of Baghdad, killing seven people and wounding three, police said Tuesday. The gunmen planted explosives round the mosque, damaging the structure. Also on Monday, army recruits were targetted when a minibus carrying new army recruits was blown up by a suicide car bomber in Baghdad, killing 14 people. Recruiting and training Iraqis to join the security services is seen as key to restoring stability in the war torn country and allowing US-led forces eventually to leave and so they become a key target.
COMMENT: Sectarian killings appear to be on the increase. This could be related to the federalism debate. Another key factor could be that when the Grand Ayatollah Sistani - the spiritual leader of the Shias - issued a fatwa or religious edict against Shias taking revenge on Sunnis, most Shias complied for a long time, however, their patience is running out now and some Shias are beginning to disobey Sistani. The 60 bodies bear the hallmarks of sectarian killings, but it is possible that in reality most Shias and Sunnis get on well, however there are core minorities (including militias) on both sides exacting revenge. Some of the Shia militias have links with Iran and it would suit Iran's interests to see Iraq destabilised. The 'sectarian warfare' however, could also be yet another destabilising factor for the anti-Iraqi forces to utilise by making killings look sectarian and thus convincing people that the insurgency is not the main problem, but sectarian strife bordering on civil war. COMMENT ENDS.
COMMENT: Sectarian killings appear to be on the increase. This could be related to the federalism debate. Another key factor could be that when the Grand Ayatollah Sistani - the spiritual leader of the Shias - issued a fatwa or religious edict against Shias taking revenge on Sunnis, most Shias complied for a long time, however, their patience is running out now and some Shias are beginning to disobey Sistani. The 60 bodies bear the hallmarks of sectarian killings, but it is possible that in reality most Shias and Sunnis get on well, however there are core minorities (including militias) on both sides exacting revenge. Some of the Shia militias have links with Iran and it would suit Iran's interests to see Iraq destabilised. The 'sectarian warfare' however, could also be yet another destabilising factor for the anti-Iraqi forces to utilise by making killings look sectarian and thus convincing people that the insurgency is not the main problem, but sectarian strife bordering on civil war. COMMENT ENDS.
