Friday, April 27, 2007
Ministry of Interior says sectarian killings down due to Adhamiya Wall
Security
(Azzaman) - The Ministry of Interior says the construction of the Adhamiya Wall has led to a substantial drop in sectarian killings, a claim which human rights groups and local press dispute. It said the killings dropped to 4-8 per day from 100-120, according to a ministry spokesman. The spokesman’s claim could not be independently confirmed at the time by human rights organizations, including the United Nations say the ministry hides civilian casualty figures.
It is the first time the ministry confirms that more than 100 people were victims of violence every day in Baghdad. The earlier figure was around 30. Simple calculations would put the figure of civilian Iraqis killed through sectarian violence only in Baghdad at more than 3,000 a month. Local press has disputed the spokesman statement that the wall, which has sparked wide criticism in the country, has led to a slash in killings. Journalists who attended the spokesman’s press conference in which he made the remarks wondered whether the ministry was not doctoring the figures again in order to justify the construction of the wall.
It is the first time the ministry confirms that more than 100 people were victims of violence every day in Baghdad. The earlier figure was around 30. Simple calculations would put the figure of civilian Iraqis killed through sectarian violence only in Baghdad at more than 3,000 a month. Local press has disputed the spokesman statement that the wall, which has sparked wide criticism in the country, has led to a slash in killings. Journalists who attended the spokesman’s press conference in which he made the remarks wondered whether the ministry was not doctoring the figures again in order to justify the construction of the wall.
Labels: Adhamiyah, Azamiyah wall, Ministry of Interior, sectarian violence
U.S. military says it will continue to build the Adhimiya wall
Security
(Al Jazeera) - The US military has said that it will continue building a concrete wall around Adhimiya, a mainly-Sunni district of Baghdad, the Iraqi capital. Colonel Don Farris, of the US army, said that after briefly halting construction of the barrier, the Iraqi government had now ordered the building of the wall to continue.
"We were asked to stop placing the barriers," Farris said on Thursday. "Since then, it has been communicated to me through the chain of command that the prime minister and Iraqi security officials have authorised work to continue." Residents had protested against the wall. Farris said that construction of the barrier would continue in the near future - although he did not specify an exact date.
"We will begin placing the barriers shortly, assisting the Iraqi security forces in placing the barrier along the Adhimiya," he said. The US army and the Iraqi security services said in mid-April they had begun constructing the wall around Adhimiya to stop Sunni car-bombers leaving the area and to stop Shia death squads from getting in.
(Al Jazeera) - The US military has said that it will continue building a concrete wall around Adhimiya, a mainly-Sunni district of Baghdad, the Iraqi capital. Colonel Don Farris, of the US army, said that after briefly halting construction of the barrier, the Iraqi government had now ordered the building of the wall to continue.
"We were asked to stop placing the barriers," Farris said on Thursday. "Since then, it has been communicated to me through the chain of command that the prime minister and Iraqi security officials have authorised work to continue." Residents had protested against the wall. Farris said that construction of the barrier would continue in the near future - although he did not specify an exact date.
"We will begin placing the barriers shortly, assisting the Iraqi security forces in placing the barrier along the Adhimiya," he said. The US army and the Iraqi security services said in mid-April they had begun constructing the wall around Adhimiya to stop Sunni car-bombers leaving the area and to stop Shia death squads from getting in.
Col Farris said on Thursday that the intention of the wall was still to stop vehicle movement into and out of the area, rather than to prevent the passage of people on foot. The Iraqi government plans to build walls around several Baghdad districts. "It's not a wall - if you will - the intent is that there's no limitation of pedestrian traffic," he said.
After the Iraqi government began building the wall, heavy criticism forced Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, to order a stop to the construction - an order which he has now apparently reversed. The barrier - composed of upright concrete blocks several metres high - is part of a wider effort by the Iraqi government to halt violence in the capital.
After the Iraqi government began building the wall, heavy criticism forced Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, to order a stop to the construction - an order which he has now apparently reversed. The barrier - composed of upright concrete blocks several metres high - is part of a wider effort by the Iraqi government to halt violence in the capital.
Labels: Adhamiyah, Azamiyah wall, Colonel Don Farris, Nuri al-Maliki
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Al-Sadr calls for demonstrations against Adhamiyah wall
Security, Politics
(AP) - Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr strongly condemned construction of a wall around a Sunni neighborhood in Baghdad, calling for demonstrations against the plan as a sign of "the evil will" of American "occupiers." The remarks, in a statement read by an aide, were the first by the anti-American cleric since the U.S. military announced last week that it was building a three-mile long 12-foot high concrete wall in Azamiyah, a Sunni stronghold that has been targeted by mortar and rocket attacks by Shiite militiamen.
Many Sunnis also protested the plan, saying they felt like they were being herded into a prison. Protesters in Azamiyah carried banners Monday with slogans such as "No to the sectarian wall" and "Azamiyah children want to see Baghdad without walls." In the statement, al-Sadr said the protests showed that Iraqis reject "the sectarian, racist and unjust wall that seeks to divide" Sunnis and Shiites. "I am confident that such honorable voices will bring down the wall," he said.
Al-Sadr, whose Mahdi Army militia was blamed for much of the sectarian killings of Sunnis, has been trying to make overtures to the Sunni minority and draw a difference between ordinary Sunnis and extremists who target Shiites. "This wall shows the evil will of the occupier and its sectarian and terrorist projects against our people," al-Sadr said in the statement. "We the people of Iraq will defend Azamiyah and other neighborhoods that you (Americans) want to segregate from us. We will stand hand in hand with you (Sunnis) to demonstrate and protect our holy land."
The U.S. and Iraqi military said they plan to construct barriers in other neighborhoods too to protect people from sectarian death squads. On Sunday, however, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he would not allow "a separation wall," but then he said that the subject would be discussed. He said he would not rule out all barriers, such as barbed wire. Iraq's chief military spokesman indicated that some type of barrier would go up, saying al-Maliki was responding to exaggerated reports about the wall.
An aide to al-Sadr, Sheik Salah al-Obaidi, told reporters in the holy Shiite city of Najaf that they plan two demonstrations in eastern and western Baghdad to condemn the wall. He did not give a date for the demonstrations but said that if the security situation permits, al-Sadr's followers will be happy to join demonstrators in Azamiyah.
The U.S. military has said that al-Sadr is currently in neighboring Iran, a claim that his aides denied in the past week saying he is in Iraq. Al-Obaidi said al-Sadr's disappearance "is for security reasons and ... it is not necessary to know where he is.
Many Sunnis also protested the plan, saying they felt like they were being herded into a prison. Protesters in Azamiyah carried banners Monday with slogans such as "No to the sectarian wall" and "Azamiyah children want to see Baghdad without walls." In the statement, al-Sadr said the protests showed that Iraqis reject "the sectarian, racist and unjust wall that seeks to divide" Sunnis and Shiites. "I am confident that such honorable voices will bring down the wall," he said.
Al-Sadr, whose Mahdi Army militia was blamed for much of the sectarian killings of Sunnis, has been trying to make overtures to the Sunni minority and draw a difference between ordinary Sunnis and extremists who target Shiites. "This wall shows the evil will of the occupier and its sectarian and terrorist projects against our people," al-Sadr said in the statement. "We the people of Iraq will defend Azamiyah and other neighborhoods that you (Americans) want to segregate from us. We will stand hand in hand with you (Sunnis) to demonstrate and protect our holy land."
The U.S. and Iraqi military said they plan to construct barriers in other neighborhoods too to protect people from sectarian death squads. On Sunday, however, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said he would not allow "a separation wall," but then he said that the subject would be discussed. He said he would not rule out all barriers, such as barbed wire. Iraq's chief military spokesman indicated that some type of barrier would go up, saying al-Maliki was responding to exaggerated reports about the wall.
An aide to al-Sadr, Sheik Salah al-Obaidi, told reporters in the holy Shiite city of Najaf that they plan two demonstrations in eastern and western Baghdad to condemn the wall. He did not give a date for the demonstrations but said that if the security situation permits, al-Sadr's followers will be happy to join demonstrators in Azamiyah.
The U.S. military has said that al-Sadr is currently in neighboring Iran, a claim that his aides denied in the past week saying he is in Iraq. Al-Obaidi said al-Sadr's disappearance "is for security reasons and ... it is not necessary to know where he is.
Labels: Adhamiyah, Azamiyah wall, demonstration, Moqtada Al-Sadr, Sheik Salah al-Obaidi
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Confusion over Adhamiyah wall
Security
(Gulf News) - Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki has ordered a halt to the construction of a wall around Al Adhamiyah, a Sunni enclave surrounded by Shiite areas in Baghdad. "I oppose the building of the wall and its construction will stop. There are other methods to protect neighbourhoods," Al Maliki said on Sunday. "I asked yesterday that it be stopped and that alternatives be found to protect the area."
Criticism has mounted over the construction of the wall, which the US military said will protect residents from sectarian violence. Sunni leaders and residents said it will only serve to isolate them and divide Baghdad along sectarian lines. Lieutenant-General Abboud Qanbar defended the scheme. "The barriers can be modified or removed at any time ... the purpose of these barriers is to provide security," he said. US troops have begun placing six-tonne sections of wall around Adhamiyah. When finished, the wall will be up to 3.5m high with military checkpoints at entrances.
US officials had said the districts of Amiriya, Khadra, and East and West Rashid will also become "gated communities".
Criticism has mounted over the construction of the wall, which the US military said will protect residents from sectarian violence. Sunni leaders and residents said it will only serve to isolate them and divide Baghdad along sectarian lines. Lieutenant-General Abboud Qanbar defended the scheme. "The barriers can be modified or removed at any time ... the purpose of these barriers is to provide security," he said. US troops have begun placing six-tonne sections of wall around Adhamiyah. When finished, the wall will be up to 3.5m high with military checkpoints at entrances.
US officials had said the districts of Amiriya, Khadra, and East and West Rashid will also become "gated communities".
Labels: Adhamiyah, Azamiyah wall, Lieutenant-General Abboud Qanbar, Nouri Al-Maliki, security
Monday, April 23, 2007
U.S. envoy defends Azamiyah wall
Security
(RFE/RL) - The new U.S. ambassador to Iraq says the U.S. military will "respect the wishes" of the Iraqi government regarding a barrier that was being built to separate a mainly Sunni Muslim part of Baghdad from nearby Shi'ite areas. Ambassador Ryan Crocker did not say that construction would stop, adding he is unsure where discussions stand on the issue.
Crocker emphasized to reporters that the wall is aimed at protecting the Sunni community, not segregating it.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced on April 22 that he had ordered a halt to construction after the project drew strong criticism from residents and Sunni leaders. It was Crocker's first news conference since arriving in Baghdad in March.
"The road is going to be a tough one," Crocker said. "I don't begin my tour here with any illusions. It is going to be very, very difficult, but I certainly believe that success is possible. Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here."
He urged the Iraqi government to make use of a U.S.-backed security plan in the capital to move forward on reconciling Iraq's warring communities. Crocker said the months ahead will be "critical."
Crocker emphasized to reporters that the wall is aimed at protecting the Sunni community, not segregating it.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced on April 22 that he had ordered a halt to construction after the project drew strong criticism from residents and Sunni leaders. It was Crocker's first news conference since arriving in Baghdad in March.
"The road is going to be a tough one," Crocker said. "I don't begin my tour here with any illusions. It is going to be very, very difficult, but I certainly believe that success is possible. Otherwise, I wouldn't be standing here."
He urged the Iraqi government to make use of a U.S.-backed security plan in the capital to move forward on reconciling Iraq's warring communities. Crocker said the months ahead will be "critical."
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has asked for an end to construction work on a wall intended to separate a mainly Sunni Muslim part of Baghdad from nearby Shi'ite areas. Al-Maliki spoke to reporters in Cairo on April 22 after talks with Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa. He said he fears the wall "might have repercussions that remind us of other walls, which we reject."
The U.S. military said last week it was building the 5-kilometer concrete wall in the Al-Adhamiyah quarter of Baghdad to protect minority Sunnis from attacks. Al-Maliki arrived in Egypt on April 22, his first stop on a four-nation Arab tour that will include Egypt, Kuwait, the U.A.E, and Oman. He is preparing for two international conferences on Iraq set to take place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 3 and 4.
Earlier, al-Maliki said the violence in Iraq is not the result of a sectarian conflict but due to the actions of Al-Qaeda and its allies. Al-Maliki said violence in Baghdad is largely under control, thanks to a new security plan.
The U.S. military said last week it was building the 5-kilometer concrete wall in the Al-Adhamiyah quarter of Baghdad to protect minority Sunnis from attacks. Al-Maliki arrived in Egypt on April 22, his first stop on a four-nation Arab tour that will include Egypt, Kuwait, the U.A.E, and Oman. He is preparing for two international conferences on Iraq set to take place in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh on May 3 and 4.
Earlier, al-Maliki said the violence in Iraq is not the result of a sectarian conflict but due to the actions of Al-Qaeda and its allies. Al-Maliki said violence in Baghdad is largely under control, thanks to a new security plan.
Labels: Azamiyah wall, Nouri Al-Maliki, Ryan Crocker, U.S. ambassador to Iraq
