Thursday, October 04, 2007
Iraqi insurgent groups announce new coalition
Insurgency
(AP) -- Nearly two dozen previously unknown Iraqi insurgent groups announced a new coalition to fight foreign occupation but it also set conditions for talks with the U.S. in a statement on a Web site affiliated with the country's deposed Baath party. The 22 groups said their leader is Izzat al-Douri, the highest ranking member of Saddam Hussein's former ruling party still at large.
In the nearly half hour video message, an unidentified man, face blurred, was shown sitting behind a table with an Iraqi flag on his right side reading a statement announcing the formation of the new alliance called "The Jihad and Liberation."
The new alliance laid down a series of conditions for talks with the U.S. It demanded an unconditional withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq, immediately or within a short timetable, the release of all detainees, return of the security forces to their status before the occupation and a halt to all operations against the people.
"If the enemy wants to withdraw and save face, they should sit down and speak directly with the resistance to discuss implementing these sacred principles. Otherwise, the only alternative is their collapse and flight," the statement said. Ayad Allawi, Iraq's first post-Saddam prime minister, has recently said he held talks with members of the Baath party loyal to al-Douri, for which he was severely criticized by Iraq's current prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.
The statement made no mention of al-Qaida in Iraq, but it contained slogans praising Arab nationalism and the Arab nation's great past. Al-Qaida's extremist ideology does not recognize nationalism, but calls for an Islamic state. There have been reports of clashes in Iraq between the more nationalist and secular elements of the insurgency with groups following al-Qaida.
The coalition is led by a group linked to al-Douri, who in his later years ascribed to a moderate, mystic Sufi form of Islam. An Islamic Web site linked to extremist groups such as al-Qaida also carried the announcement, but ridiculed al-Douri and the new group.
In the nearly half hour video message, an unidentified man, face blurred, was shown sitting behind a table with an Iraqi flag on his right side reading a statement announcing the formation of the new alliance called "The Jihad and Liberation."
The new alliance laid down a series of conditions for talks with the U.S. It demanded an unconditional withdrawal of foreign forces from Iraq, immediately or within a short timetable, the release of all detainees, return of the security forces to their status before the occupation and a halt to all operations against the people.
"If the enemy wants to withdraw and save face, they should sit down and speak directly with the resistance to discuss implementing these sacred principles. Otherwise, the only alternative is their collapse and flight," the statement said. Ayad Allawi, Iraq's first post-Saddam prime minister, has recently said he held talks with members of the Baath party loyal to al-Douri, for which he was severely criticized by Iraq's current prime minister, Nouri al-Maliki.
The statement made no mention of al-Qaida in Iraq, but it contained slogans praising Arab nationalism and the Arab nation's great past. Al-Qaida's extremist ideology does not recognize nationalism, but calls for an Islamic state. There have been reports of clashes in Iraq between the more nationalist and secular elements of the insurgency with groups following al-Qaida.
The coalition is led by a group linked to al-Douri, who in his later years ascribed to a moderate, mystic Sufi form of Islam. An Islamic Web site linked to extremist groups such as al-Qaida also carried the announcement, but ridiculed al-Douri and the new group.
Labels: Ayad Allawi, Baath Party, Izzat al-Douri, The Jihad and Liberation
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Special IDs to be issued to Baghdad residents
Security
(IRIN) - In a bid to reduce sectarian violence, the Iraqi authorities have decided to issue special IDs to Baghdad residents to make it easy to identify militants, a senior military officer said. "The aim is to easily differentiate between true residents of Baghdad and strangers and militants who come from other provinces to carry out terrorist attacks," Brig Qassim al-Mousawi, spokesman of the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi armed forces, said.
"Nine security centres will be opened in Baghdad soon to issue these IDs, five on the western side and four on the eastern side, and these centres will be run by the US army, Iraqi security forces and local officials in each neighbourhood," al-Mousawi said. He did not specify when the authorities would issue these new IDs, which would bear a person’s full name and address.
However, a former senior army official criticised the plan. "The Iraqi government and US army are skirting around the problem instead of getting to the bottom of it," said retired Brig Fadhil Salman Abdul-Muhaimen, who served nearly 30 years in the former Iraqi army. "Terrorists, militants, insurgents or whatever they call them not only come from outside Baghdad, they are also residents of Baghdad," Abdul-Muhaimen said.
There have been reports of Sunnis carrying fake IDs with Shia names and Shias carrying fake IDs with Sunni names in case insurgents or militias stop people to find out their possible sectarian affiliation. “Sitting ducks” For Baghdad resident Ghazwan Amin Jaafar, having such an ID will "make us sitting ducks for those who are looking for people to kidnap and kill”. "With these IDs, we can't trick the militants any more, as our real names and addresses will be revealed. I hope the government will think carefully before it kicks this off because it will put us in danger all the time," said 33-year-old Jaafar.
Abdul-Muhaimen urged the government to deal with the essence of the problem. “Why are these militants entering Baghdad and carrying out attacks? It [the government] should do more on reconciliation, and bring back as many former army officers, members of the Saddam-era security services and Baath party members as possible," he said.
Labels: Baath Party, Baghdad residents, Brig Fadhil Salman Abdul-Muhaimen, Brig Qassim al-Mousawi, former security forces, ID cards
Syria cancels Iraqi anti-U.S. groups' meeting
Politics, Security
(Reuters) - A large meeting of Iraqi rebel groups that was due to be held in Damascus on Monday was cancelled at the behest of Syria, delegates said. Hundreds of delegates, including members of the banned Iraqi Baath Party, officers in Saddam Hussein's now defunct security forces and anti-U.S. tribal leaders, had gathered in Damascus to work out a joint programme for groups opposed to the continued presence of U.S. forces in Iraq.
"The Syrians gently made it clear that this is not the time for this," a senior Baath Party member told Reuters.
"The Americans and their Iraqi government clients are intensifying their lies that Syria is behind terrorism and attacks on innocent Iraqis, which we all condemn." He was speaking at a meeting to announce the cancellation of the conference at a hotel in the outskirts of Damascus. The decision did not go down well with most participants, especially those who had travelled from Iraq.
Some delegates linked the meeting's cancellation to the visit last week to Syria by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. A communique issued after a meeting between Ahmadinejad and President Bashar al-Assad last week said the two leaders were adamant about the need to end U.S. occupation but back the Iraqi government and "condemn terrorism against the Iraqi people and their institutions".
Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi is expected to visit Damascus next month. With a 360-km (225-mile) border with Iraq and some 1.4 million Iraqi refugees in Syria, Damascus has said that a descent into an all out civil war there would have "devastating consequences" for the region.
Thousands of Iraqi Baathists and former security figures have made Syria their base since the 2003 U.S. invasion. The Iraqi government says they play a major role in supporting the insurgency. Washington accuses Syria of letting fighters cross its borders into Iraq, a charge Syria denies.
Damascus says its influence with rebel forces in Iraq could help the United States achieve an "honourable withdrawal" for American troops. "We should not see a contradiction between raising the gun and negotiating an end to the occupation," a tribal leader from Iraq's western Anbar province addressed the delegates. He acknowledged, however, that the rebel groups lack a unified political front.
"The Syrians gently made it clear that this is not the time for this," a senior Baath Party member told Reuters.
"The Americans and their Iraqi government clients are intensifying their lies that Syria is behind terrorism and attacks on innocent Iraqis, which we all condemn." He was speaking at a meeting to announce the cancellation of the conference at a hotel in the outskirts of Damascus. The decision did not go down well with most participants, especially those who had travelled from Iraq.
Some delegates linked the meeting's cancellation to the visit last week to Syria by Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. A communique issued after a meeting between Ahmadinejad and President Bashar al-Assad last week said the two leaders were adamant about the need to end U.S. occupation but back the Iraqi government and "condemn terrorism against the Iraqi people and their institutions".
Iraqi Vice President Adel Abdul Mahdi is expected to visit Damascus next month. With a 360-km (225-mile) border with Iraq and some 1.4 million Iraqi refugees in Syria, Damascus has said that a descent into an all out civil war there would have "devastating consequences" for the region.
Thousands of Iraqi Baathists and former security figures have made Syria their base since the 2003 U.S. invasion. The Iraqi government says they play a major role in supporting the insurgency. Washington accuses Syria of letting fighters cross its borders into Iraq, a charge Syria denies.
Damascus says its influence with rebel forces in Iraq could help the United States achieve an "honourable withdrawal" for American troops. "We should not see a contradiction between raising the gun and negotiating an end to the occupation," a tribal leader from Iraq's western Anbar province addressed the delegates. He acknowledged, however, that the rebel groups lack a unified political front.
Labels: Baath Party, former security forces, Syria, tribal leaders
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Speak Freely; Official’s Son Kidnapped To Guarantee Secret Negotiations Between Government And Baathists
Security, Politics
(Al Bayyna Newspaper) - 28 MAY - As a former [Iraqi] Air Officer Legal Officer moved toward the Green Zone for discussions with high level officials from the Iraqi government, an MOI official’s son was kidnapped. The media has not focused on this kidnapping because the negotiations were extremely sensitive. Later, sources revealed that the former officer’s group kidnapped the MOI official’s son in order to guarantee that the former officer was not arrested or assassinated during the negotiations.
The former officer, Abd Al Falah Mohammed, represented one of the Baath Party’s sections. In this case, he represented the Al Douri section of the party. Mohammed is from Ramadi. After he completed his mission in the Green Zone, his group released the hostage. According to special sources, the main goal of these negotiations was related to AL Douri’s section or group wanting to control Anbar instead of the Anbar Salvation Council. This demand came because of recent conflicts between the Salvation Council and tribal leaders because several tribal leaders claimed they were the leaders of the Council.
Labels: Abd Al Falah Mohammed, Anbar Salvation Council, Baath Party, hostage, negotiations
Monday, May 14, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
Roundup of violence in Iraq - 13 May 2007
(McClatchy Newspapers) - The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
(McClatchy Newspapers) - The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers in Baghdad from police, military and medical reports. This is not a comprehensive list of all violence in Iraq, much of which goes unreported. It’s posted without editing as transmitted to McClatchy’s Washington Bureau.
(Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1400 GMT on Monday:
* Denotes new or updated item.
BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed one person and wounded 13, including four policemen, in Zaafaraniya district of southern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb in a parking lot killed one person and wounded four others in the central Karrada district of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed one person and wounded three others in Palestine Street in northeastern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 22 people were found in different districts of Baghdad on Sunday, police said.
* BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber killed two Iraqi soldiers and wounded four others at a major intersection in western Baghdad, police said.
* NEAR BASRA - A roadside bomb wounded six Danish soldiers just north of Basra, British military spokesman Major David Gell said.
MOSUL - The bodies of six people, including a policeman, were found shot in different districts of the northern city of Mosul on Sunday, police said.
MOSUL - Gunmen killed two former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party in Mosul on Sunday, police said.
* Denotes new or updated item.
BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb targeting a police patrol killed one person and wounded 13, including four policemen, in Zaafaraniya district of southern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb in a parking lot killed one person and wounded four others in the central Karrada district of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - A car bomb killed one person and wounded three others in Palestine Street in northeastern Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 22 people were found in different districts of Baghdad on Sunday, police said.
* BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber killed two Iraqi soldiers and wounded four others at a major intersection in western Baghdad, police said.
* NEAR BASRA - A roadside bomb wounded six Danish soldiers just north of Basra, British military spokesman Major David Gell said.
MOSUL - The bodies of six people, including a policeman, were found shot in different districts of the northern city of Mosul on Sunday, police said.
MOSUL - Gunmen killed two former members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party in Mosul on Sunday, police said.
Labels: Baath Party, Basra, car bomb, Danes, IED, Karrada, Mosul, police, Zaafaraniya
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Sunni tribal leader tells U.S. to tackle Shia militias
Security, Politics
(AP) - A prominent Iraqi Sunni leader said Friday that the insurgency in Iraq could end if the U.S. showed determination to stop the influence of pro-Iranian Shiite militias there. "The Americans must act seriously and abolish those militias, confiscate their weapons, arrest their criminals and at the same time stop the Iranian influence which is penetrating all of Iraq, including the government," said Sheik Majeed al-Gaood, a prominent tribal leader in Anbar province, the heartland of the Sunni insurgency.
Al-Gaood is a leading member of a Sunni family that plays a major role in tribal politics in Anbar. He is believed to have close ties with factions of former dictator Saddam Hussein's disbanded Baath Party. Al-Gaood has previously said a truce with the United States was possible if the Shiite-dominated government of Iraq were "dismissed" and new elections held. He said he was committed to the unity of Iraq and wanted sectarian violence to end.
Al-Gaood is a leading member of a Sunni family that plays a major role in tribal politics in Anbar. He is believed to have close ties with factions of former dictator Saddam Hussein's disbanded Baath Party. Al-Gaood has previously said a truce with the United States was possible if the Shiite-dominated government of Iraq were "dismissed" and new elections held. He said he was committed to the unity of Iraq and wanted sectarian violence to end.
Al-Gaood suggested that the end of the insurgency was contingent, however, on ending Iranian influence in Iraq. "Iran is a worse enemy for Iraq than the United States," he said. Al-Gaood heads a group called "Wahaj el Iraq," or "Flame of Iraq," a Sunni-dominated Iraqi political faction believed to have close ties to the disbanded Baath Party. Al-Gaood said that talks with Shiite militias were out of the question and that his group would side with all "Iraqis who reject the occupation and want to preserve the unity of Iraq."
Labels: Al Anbar, Baath Party, Flame of Iraq, Iran, Sheik Majeed al-Gaood, Shiite militias, tribal leaders, U.S., Wahaj el Iraq
