Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Al-Qaeda in Iraq Takes Responsibility for Assassination of Abu Risha
Insurgency, Tribal
(MEMRI) - On September 14, 2007, the Islamist website www.al-ekhlaas.net/forum, which is hosted in Malaysia, posted an announcement by the Al-Qaeda-founded Islamic State of Iraq (ISI) taking responsibility for the assassination of 'Abd Al-Sattar Abu Risha, head of the Al-Anbar Salvation Council. The statement declared that the assassination came because of Abu Risha's collaboration with the Americans and with the Al-Maliki government. It also announced the establishment of "special security committees" which will eliminate other senior figures from the Al-Anbar tribes who collaborate with these elements.
The following are excerpts:
"On Thursday, September 13, 2007, Allah allowed your brothers in the [ISI] Ministry of [General] Security to track and kill the imam of heresy and apostasy called 'Abd Al-Sattar Abu Risha, head of the so-called Al-Anbar Salvation Council, in a courageous operation that took over a month to prepare...
"Members of the noble tribes [in the Al-Anbar district] asked the soldiers of the Islamic State [of Iraq] to rescue them from the militias that are collaborating [with the Americans and with the Al-Maliki government], and from the corruption they have spread in the city of Al-Ramadi...
"Other apostate leaders who are collaborating with the American plan should be aware that the swords of the mujahideen are lying in wait for them. We hereby announce the establishment of special security committees that will track and kill top tribal leaders who have sullied the reputation of their noble tribes by being friendly towards the soldiers of the Cross and towards the Shi'ite Al-Maliki government...
"We apologize for not giving [more] details about this courageous operation. [We do this] for security reasons, in order to protect the lives of the blessed tribe members who took part in this successful and blessed operation."
The following are excerpts:
"On Thursday, September 13, 2007, Allah allowed your brothers in the [ISI] Ministry of [General] Security to track and kill the imam of heresy and apostasy called 'Abd Al-Sattar Abu Risha, head of the so-called Al-Anbar Salvation Council, in a courageous operation that took over a month to prepare...
"Members of the noble tribes [in the Al-Anbar district] asked the soldiers of the Islamic State [of Iraq] to rescue them from the militias that are collaborating [with the Americans and with the Al-Maliki government], and from the corruption they have spread in the city of Al-Ramadi...
"Other apostate leaders who are collaborating with the American plan should be aware that the swords of the mujahideen are lying in wait for them. We hereby announce the establishment of special security committees that will track and kill top tribal leaders who have sullied the reputation of their noble tribes by being friendly towards the soldiers of the Cross and towards the Shi'ite Al-Maliki government...
"We apologize for not giving [more] details about this courageous operation. [We do this] for security reasons, in order to protect the lives of the blessed tribe members who took part in this successful and blessed operation."
Labels: Al Qaeda, Anbar Salvation Council, assassination, Islamic State of Iraq, Malaysia, Sheik Abdul-Sattar abu Risha
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Iraq considering Malaysian model for new constitution
Politics
(AP) Iraq is looking to ethnically diverse and harmonious Malaysia as a possible model for a new Iraqi constitution, an official was reported as saying Thursday. Hummam Hammoudi, the head of a committee considering amendments to the Iraqi constitution, made the comments during a dinner hosted by the northern state of Penang for visiting Iraqi lawmakers and U.N. officials, according to the report by Malaysia's national news agency Bernama.
Neither Hammoudi nor Iraqi embassy officials could be immediately reached to confirm his comments. Hammoudi's committee is studying how the constitution can be revised to foster peace and end sectarian strife.
Hammoudi is a Shiite lawmaker and cleric on the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, which makes up the largest party in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ruling coalition. Hammoudi's 29-member committee is dominated by 12 members from the Shiite bloc. The others are Kurds, Sunnis, other minorities and secularists.
The panel is expected to propose the amendments by mid-May. A national referendum will be held on the changes after they are approved by a majority vote in the 275-member legislature.
Neither Hammoudi nor Iraqi embassy officials could be immediately reached to confirm his comments. Hammoudi's committee is studying how the constitution can be revised to foster peace and end sectarian strife.
Hammoudi is a Shiite lawmaker and cleric on the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, which makes up the largest party in Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's ruling coalition. Hammoudi's 29-member committee is dominated by 12 members from the Shiite bloc. The others are Kurds, Sunnis, other minorities and secularists.
The panel is expected to propose the amendments by mid-May. A national referendum will be held on the changes after they are approved by a majority vote in the 275-member legislature.
Labels: constitution, Malaysia, politics
