Saturday, March 17, 2007
Mass protests in Sadr City
Security, Politics
(Al Jazeera) More than a thousand unarmed protesters demanded the removal of a US military base in Baghdad's Sadr City on Friday in the first sign of Shia opposition to a new security plan. A large crowd of Shia-led worshippers unfurled banners demanding the base be abandoned while chanting: "No, no to America. No, no to Israel. No, no to Satan."
There have been fears that US and Iraqi forces would face violent opposition as they tried to gain control of the vast Sadr City district- a stronghold of the Moqtada al-Sadr's al-Mahdi armed fighters. Instead, al-Sadr's black-clad fighters melted away as the plan went into effect last month. Sadr himself was not present - the US military believes he has gone to ground in Iraq's Shia neighbour Iran - but supporters carried his portrait and read out a statement he had apparently sent to them.
There have been fears that US and Iraqi forces would face violent opposition as they tried to gain control of the vast Sadr City district- a stronghold of the Moqtada al-Sadr's al-Mahdi armed fighters. Instead, al-Sadr's black-clad fighters melted away as the plan went into effect last month. Sadr himself was not present - the US military believes he has gone to ground in Iraq's Shia neighbour Iran - but supporters carried his portrait and read out a statement he had apparently sent to them.
COMMENT: It is likely the protests were triggered by the attack on the mayor of Sadr City, Rahim al-Darraji, who has been cooperative with the U.S. in Operation Imposing Law and statements released by al-Sadr to stand up to the U.S. Although Sunnis are obvious suspects to have carried out the attack, it could also have been conducted by Shia militia men against the stand that al-Darraji has taken with the U.S. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Moqtada Al-Sadr, Operation Fardh al-Qanoon, Rahim al-Darraji, Sadr City
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Top Sadr City official seriously wounded
Security, Politics
(AP) The top official in Baghdad's main Shiite district of Sadr City was seriously wounded Thursday when gunmen ambushed his convoy in eastern Baghdad, killing two of his bodyguards, according to police and a local official. Rahim al-Darraji has been involved in negotiations with U.S. and Iraqi government officials seeking to persuade the Shiite militias that dominate the sprawling slum to pull their fighters off the streets ahead of a security crackdown to stop the sectarian warfare in Baghdad.
His convoy was attacked in a drive-by shooting in the mostly Shiite area of Habibiyah. The efforts by Shiite political parties to avoid a showdown with U.S. troops have seen some success, with a decline in execution-style killings, random shootings and rocket attacks. U.S. and Iraqi troops have been carrying raids in the neighborhood against commanders and members of the Mahdi Army militia that is loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but they have met with little resistance.
Sadr City has been targeted by a large number of explosions that killed hundreds of people in the past months, including Nov. 23 bombings in which 215 people died. The Mahdi Army had been almost in full charge of security in the area, checking cars and suspicious people, and some have blamed the drop in their presence for car bombings that have continued despite the crackdown.
His convoy was attacked in a drive-by shooting in the mostly Shiite area of Habibiyah. The efforts by Shiite political parties to avoid a showdown with U.S. troops have seen some success, with a decline in execution-style killings, random shootings and rocket attacks. U.S. and Iraqi troops have been carrying raids in the neighborhood against commanders and members of the Mahdi Army militia that is loyal to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, but they have met with little resistance.
Sadr City has been targeted by a large number of explosions that killed hundreds of people in the past months, including Nov. 23 bombings in which 215 people died. The Mahdi Army had been almost in full charge of security in the area, checking cars and suspicious people, and some have blamed the drop in their presence for car bombings that have continued despite the crackdown.
Labels: Rahim al-Darraji, Sadr City, U.S.
