Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Tribal leaders gunned down in Mosul
Security, Tribal
(Azzaman) - Three tribal leaders in the northern city of Mosul have been gunned down by unidentified assailants. Attacks on tribal chiefs in Iraq, particularly in the Sunni-dominated areas of central and northern Iraq have increased recently. The attacks come following reports that certain tribes were no longer willing to provide refuge for al-Qaeda-linked insurgents and some had mobilized their armed men to have them flushed from their areas.
But it seems the group is too strong to be beaten by Iraqi tribes and its members are reported to be murdering the chiefs of any tribe standing against them. In the northern city of Mosul, three leaders of major tribes have been killed. The first, Shaikh Khanim Ibrahim al-Sabaawi, was leader of the powerful al-Sabaawi tribe. Earlier unidentified gunmen had killed Khanim al-Hadi of al-Aqidat tribe and Ghazi al-Hanash of Tai tribe.
Reports that they were liquidated by al-Qaeda still need to be independently verified but eyewitnesses say the three chiefs were shot and killed by unknown assailants.
But it seems the group is too strong to be beaten by Iraqi tribes and its members are reported to be murdering the chiefs of any tribe standing against them. In the northern city of Mosul, three leaders of major tribes have been killed. The first, Shaikh Khanim Ibrahim al-Sabaawi, was leader of the powerful al-Sabaawi tribe. Earlier unidentified gunmen had killed Khanim al-Hadi of al-Aqidat tribe and Ghazi al-Hanash of Tai tribe.
Reports that they were liquidated by al-Qaeda still need to be independently verified but eyewitnesses say the three chiefs were shot and killed by unknown assailants.
Meantime, pressure on Iraqi Christians in Mosul is mounting with armed groups warning that they will either turn to Islam or leave. Mosul is one of Iraq’s main Christian centers. Many of the city’s numerous churches and monasteries have been abandoned with the largest portion of the nearly 150,000-Christian community forced to flee. Early this week, a priest and three deacons were killed as they left their church.
Labels: al-Aqidat tribe, al-Sabaawi tribe, Ghazi al-Hanash, Iraqi Christians, Khanim al-Hadi, Mosul, Shaikh Khanim Ibrahim al-Sabaawi, Tai tribe, tribal leaders
