Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Quds press - Mahdi Army threatened Governor of Muthanna
Security
(Quds Press) - Following the assassination of Governor al-Hassani, a curfew was imposed on al-Muthanna Province. Muhammad ‘Ali al-Hassani had served the American occupation as “Governor” of al-Muthanna Province since October 2003. He was a leader of the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council (SIIC).
In a dispatch posted on its website Monday, Quds Press reported that al-Hassani took a strong stand against the rival Shi‘i sectarian Jaysh al-Mahdi militia, helping US forces to crack down on the followers of sectarian cleric Muqtada as-Sadr a little over two months ago. With the help of al-Hassani dozens of Jaysh al-Mahdi gunmen were arrested as were numerous employees of the Muqtada as-Sadr office in the city.
Sources in as-Samawah told Quds Press that members of the puppet security forces (many of whom are simultaneously members of either the Jaysh al-Mahdi or the Badr Brigades) were believed to have been involved in the assassination.
Quds Press reported that the Jaysh al-Mahdi had been circulating leaflets in al-Muthanna Province threatening the puppet governor and members of the city council, blaming them for the arrests of the Jaysh al-Mahdi members earlier in the year.
Observers quoted by Quds Press said that the whole of southern Iraq was likely to ignite in a large scale turf war between rival Shi‘i fundamentalist sectarian militias as they battle for control of that part of the country as Britain and the US reduce their presence in the area.
Sources in as-Samawah told Quds Press that members of the puppet security forces (many of whom are simultaneously members of either the Jaysh al-Mahdi or the Badr Brigades) were believed to have been involved in the assassination.
Quds Press reported that the Jaysh al-Mahdi had been circulating leaflets in al-Muthanna Province threatening the puppet governor and members of the city council, blaming them for the arrests of the Jaysh al-Mahdi members earlier in the year.
Observers quoted by Quds Press said that the whole of southern Iraq was likely to ignite in a large scale turf war between rival Shi‘i fundamentalist sectarian militias as they battle for control of that part of the country as Britain and the US reduce their presence in the area.
As-Samawah and ad-Diwaniyah have witnessed intermittent clashes between the Jaysh al-Mahdi and Badr Brigades in recent days following the assassination of the puppet governor of ad-Diwaniyah. Jalil Hamzah, the puppet regime’s chief administrator in ad-Diwaniyah died in the explosion of a device identical to that which killed al-Hassani on Monday – a type of explosive device that is said to be made in Iran.
Labels: Badr Organisation, Jaysh al-Mahdi, Mahdi Army, Muhammad ‘Ali al-Hassani, Muthanna province, Samawa, SIIC
