Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Suicide bomber targets tribal chiefs
Insurgency, Tribal
(AP) - A suicide car bomber struck a group of tribal chiefs who opposed al-Qaida, killing at least 18 in a market area near Fallujah. Tuesday's attack underscored the difficulties facing Sunni leaders in trying to wrest control of Anbar province from the terror network. Much of the al-Buissa tribe has formed an alliance against al-Qaida in Iraq, which has alienated more moderate Sunnis with its brutality and dependence on foreign fighters. The U.S. military has touted the alliance, the Anbar Salvation Council, as a success in its efforts to stabilize the country.
The bomb exploded in a pickup truck next to where the elders were trying to solve a tribal dispute in Amiriyah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, police said. The driver of the pickup had gained access to the market area by saying he needed to buy some watermelons, said Ahmed al-Issawi, 40, an owner of a food store there.
The bomb exploded in a pickup truck next to where the elders were trying to solve a tribal dispute in Amiriyah, 40 miles west of Baghdad, police said. The driver of the pickup had gained access to the market area by saying he needed to buy some watermelons, said Ahmed al-Issawi, 40, an owner of a food store there.
At least 18 people were killed and 15 were wounded, according to U.S. Marine Maj. Jeff Pool, a military spokesman for the area. An al-Buissa tribal chieftain, Abbas Mohammed, said the violence would not deter the local leaders from their fight against al-Qaida. "We expected such attacks after we cleaned our area of al Qaida members," Mohammed said. "Despite these attacks, we will go on in chasing al-Qaida elements."
Labels: Abbas Mohammed, Al Qaeda in Iraq, al-Buissa tribe, Anbar Salvation Council, Fallujah, Maj. Jeff Pool, suicide bomber, tribal leaders
