Monday, September 17, 2007
Islamic State of Iraq steps up attacks
Insurgency
(Gulf News) - At least 30 people were killed as militants stepped up bombings and shootings across Iraq on Sunday. This followed a threat by Al Qaida to launch a new phase of violence. Suspected Al Qaida militants shot dead 14 people in the predominantly Sunni Arab town of Muqdadiya north of Baghdad and torched at least 12 shops in the town, Iraqi police said.
A suicide bomber on a booby-trapped bicycle killed six people at an outdoor cafe in the northern town of Tuz Khurmato. In Baghdad, eight people were killed in four separate bombings. In the raids on the villages of Jichan and Ghizlayat, the fighters arrived from several different directions and residents fought back until Iraqi security forces arrived and chased the attackers, who fled to nearby farms. The clashes about 60 miles north of Baghdad lasted about two hours, officials and witnesses said.
An Al Qaida-led group, the Islamic State in Iraq, had said on Saturday it was launching a fresh round of attacks to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started late last week. Meanwhile, the US military said it had caught a suspected Al Qaida militant believed to be behind the killing last week of a key Sunni Arab tribal leader in Anbar province.
Shaikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, who met US President George W. Bush two weeks ago in Anbar, was killed in a bomb attack on Thursday near his home. He led an alliance of tribes that helped US troops push Al Qaida out of much of the vast western area.
A suicide bomber on a booby-trapped bicycle killed six people at an outdoor cafe in the northern town of Tuz Khurmato. In Baghdad, eight people were killed in four separate bombings. In the raids on the villages of Jichan and Ghizlayat, the fighters arrived from several different directions and residents fought back until Iraqi security forces arrived and chased the attackers, who fled to nearby farms. The clashes about 60 miles north of Baghdad lasted about two hours, officials and witnesses said.
An Al Qaida-led group, the Islamic State in Iraq, had said on Saturday it was launching a fresh round of attacks to mark the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which started late last week. Meanwhile, the US military said it had caught a suspected Al Qaida militant believed to be behind the killing last week of a key Sunni Arab tribal leader in Anbar province.
Shaikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, who met US President George W. Bush two weeks ago in Anbar, was killed in a bomb attack on Thursday near his home. He led an alliance of tribes that helped US troops push Al Qaida out of much of the vast western area.
Labels: Al Qaeda, booby-trapped bicycle, Islamic State in Iraq, Muqdadiya, suicide bomber, Tuz Kharmatu, violence
Friday, September 07, 2007
Iraq only has a third of the doctors it needs
Security
(AP) -- Iraq only has a third of the doctors it needs because killings and kidnappings of the medical professionals prompted many to leave the country, its military surgeon general said Thursday. A recent decline in violence is tempting some to return, said Brig. Gen. Samir Abdullah Hassan, surgeon general for the country's soldiers, sailors, airmen and special forces.
Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Samir said he didn't have figures for the number of doctors practicing in Iraq now compared to the number before the war. But the military alone has only about a fourth of the physicians its needs - there are 148 and the need is for 600 to 700, he said. For the country overall, the Ministry of Health only has 35 percent of the physicians it needs to staff its civilian hospitals, he said.
Samir, who was trained as an orthopedic surgeon, was in Washington the past week for meetings with U.S. military and civilian medical facilities. He said colleagues who had fled to Jordan, Egypt and other nations have been in touch with him recently, saying they would like to come home. "There is (still) kidnapping, there is assassination, but it's decreased," he said.
"I can assure you if the security improved more and more, the majority of them would return back to the country," said Samir. To attract and keep more in the profession, the government also needs to increase salaries from the roughly $300 a month now paid to newly trained doctors, Samir said in a briefing with Dr. Ward S. Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health.
Casscells said more attention was paid by the U.S. to Iraqi health care before violence spiraled in early 2006. He indicated that he's taking another look at the possibilities now that security seems to be improving in some areas. Like everything else in Iraq, rebuilding the health sector has been greatly slowed by violence and problems within the Iraqi government.
For instance, of some 70 health care centers scheduled for construction by last July, only 44 were completed. Of those, 20 had been turned over to the Ministry of Health to administer and only eight were open at the end of July, according to the most recent report by Stuart Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Samir said he didn't have figures for the number of doctors practicing in Iraq now compared to the number before the war. But the military alone has only about a fourth of the physicians its needs - there are 148 and the need is for 600 to 700, he said. For the country overall, the Ministry of Health only has 35 percent of the physicians it needs to staff its civilian hospitals, he said.
Samir, who was trained as an orthopedic surgeon, was in Washington the past week for meetings with U.S. military and civilian medical facilities. He said colleagues who had fled to Jordan, Egypt and other nations have been in touch with him recently, saying they would like to come home. "There is (still) kidnapping, there is assassination, but it's decreased," he said.
"I can assure you if the security improved more and more, the majority of them would return back to the country," said Samir. To attract and keep more in the profession, the government also needs to increase salaries from the roughly $300 a month now paid to newly trained doctors, Samir said in a briefing with Dr. Ward S. Casscells, assistant secretary of defense for health.
Casscells said more attention was paid by the U.S. to Iraqi health care before violence spiraled in early 2006. He indicated that he's taking another look at the possibilities now that security seems to be improving in some areas. Like everything else in Iraq, rebuilding the health sector has been greatly slowed by violence and problems within the Iraqi government.
For instance, of some 70 health care centers scheduled for construction by last July, only 44 were completed. Of those, 20 had been turned over to the Ministry of Health to administer and only eight were open at the end of July, according to the most recent report by Stuart Bowen, special inspector general for Iraq reconstruction.
Labels: Brig. Gen. Samir Abdullah Hassan, doctors, medical professionals, Ministry of Health, violence
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Seperate attacks in Kirkuk kill four
Security
(Voices of Iraq) - At least four people were killed and ten more wounded in separate attacks in the northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk on Wednesday, police sources said. "A car bomb detonated, today at 7:00 pm, in Domiz area, southwestern Kirkuk, killing three civilians and wounding seven more," the source, who spoke on anonymity condition, told the independent news agency Voices of Iraq (VOI).
The source added "the explosion also damaged some commercial shops." Meanwhile, another police source told VOI "an explosive charge went off, today at 6:00 pm, near a police vehicle patrol in Domiz area, wounding three policemen." The wounded policemen were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, he added.
The same source added that unknown gunmen opened fire at a shop for selling alcoholics today at 4:00 pm in Domiz, killing the owner inside his shop. Kirkuk is 250 km northeast of Baghdad.
The source added "the explosion also damaged some commercial shops." Meanwhile, another police source told VOI "an explosive charge went off, today at 6:00 pm, near a police vehicle patrol in Domiz area, wounding three policemen." The wounded policemen were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, he added.
The same source added that unknown gunmen opened fire at a shop for selling alcoholics today at 4:00 pm in Domiz, killing the owner inside his shop. Kirkuk is 250 km northeast of Baghdad.
COMMENT: Violence is likely to escalate in Kirkuk between the different ethnic groups in the run-up to the referendum on whether Kirkuk should become part of Kurdistan, something the Kurds want, but most of the rest of the population in the town don't. Gunmen opening up fire on an shop selling alcohol indicates that the gunmen were likely extremists. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Domiz area, Kirkuk, violence
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
Roundup of violence in Iraq - Wednesday 6 June 2007 - McClatchy Newspapers
The daily Iraq violence report is compiled by McClatchy Newspapers Special Correspondent Hussein Kadhim 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 1100 GMT on Thursday:
MOSUL - A suicide truck bomber killed nine people and wounded 22 in an attack on the police headquarters in the town of Rabae near the Syrian border, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. and Iraqi soldiers detained 16 suspected insurgents during raids in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. It said those detained were suspected of facilitating the transport of explosives and other weapons from Iran to Iraq.
TIKRIT - Police arrested Salam Mulla Mustafa, a local al Qaeda leader, and four of his aides in Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi soldiers killed eight suspected insurgents and arrested 40 others in different parts of Iraq over the past 24 hours, the Iraqi military said.
NEAR TIKRIT - A roadside bomb targeted a senior police officer's convoy near Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police said. Two of the officer's bodyguards were wounded.
NEAR RAMADI - At least six people were wounded, including one policeman, in an attempted attack by a suicide truck bomber on a police checkpoint near Ramadi, west of Baghdad, police said. Police opened fire and blew up the truck before it reached its target.
MAHMUDIYA - Police found two bodies with bullet wounds and showing signs of torture near the town of Mahmudiya, 30 km (20 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
FALLUJA - Police found five bodies, all tortured and shot, in farmland 12 km (8 miles) north of Falluja, police said. The five men were kidnapped by gunmen from Falluja three days ago.
MOSUL - A suicide truck bomber killed nine people and wounded 22 in an attack on the police headquarters in the town of Rabae near the Syrian border, police said.
BAGHDAD - U.S. and Iraqi soldiers detained 16 suspected insurgents during raids in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. It said those detained were suspected of facilitating the transport of explosives and other weapons from Iran to Iraq.
TIKRIT - Police arrested Salam Mulla Mustafa, a local al Qaeda leader, and four of his aides in Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi soldiers killed eight suspected insurgents and arrested 40 others in different parts of Iraq over the past 24 hours, the Iraqi military said.
NEAR TIKRIT - A roadside bomb targeted a senior police officer's convoy near Tikrit, 175 km (110 miles) north of Baghdad, police said. Two of the officer's bodyguards were wounded.
NEAR RAMADI - At least six people were wounded, including one policeman, in an attempted attack by a suicide truck bomber on a police checkpoint near Ramadi, west of Baghdad, police said. Police opened fire and blew up the truck before it reached its target.
MAHMUDIYA - Police found two bodies with bullet wounds and showing signs of torture near the town of Mahmudiya, 30 km (20 miles) south of Baghdad, police said.
FALLUJA - Police found five bodies, all tortured and shot, in farmland 12 km (8 miles) north of Falluja, police said. The five men were kidnapped by gunmen from Falluja three days ago.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Doura besieged by U.S.-Iraqi troops
Security
(Azzaman) - The restive Doura quarter of Baghdad has been under siege for nearly two weeks and residents say they are running out of basic items and amenities. Doura is an anti-U.S. stronghold where armed groups have had the upper hand for years. Repeated U.S. assaults have failed to dislodge the rebels, most of them adhering to the strict rules of Islam.
Most Christians have left the district following threats of kidnapping or killing. Doura’s four churches and three monasteries have been evacuated with U.S. troops turning two of them into barracks. But the remaining residents say U.S. military operations and sieges have turned their quarter into a big prison. They say shops have been closed and people cannot leave their homes with U.S. snipers occupying roofs of high buildings.
Iqbal Abdullah said the military cordon prevents civil servants from going to work and has made it impossible for students to join school. “The Doura area is besieged by U.S. and Iraqi troops. I have not been able to go to work for nearly two weeks. The troops prevent people from walking or moving from one place to another,” she said.
Saad Mohammed, a taxi driver, said he had not been able to drive for all this period. “The Doura area is under complete siege. There are no shops, no pharmacy, and no clinic. There is no electricity or water. We are passing through real tragedy,” he said. Omer Ahmad said the troops would not even allow a person to shop from other areas. “The forces in Doura do not allow residents to even walk in the district. Several people have been either injured or killed by snipers as they tried to leave their homes,” he said.
Doura is one of the most violent quarters of Baghdad. The rebels have imposed strict Islamic jurisprudence on the population which included a sizeable Christian minority.
Most Christians have left the district following threats of kidnapping or killing. Doura’s four churches and three monasteries have been evacuated with U.S. troops turning two of them into barracks. But the remaining residents say U.S. military operations and sieges have turned their quarter into a big prison. They say shops have been closed and people cannot leave their homes with U.S. snipers occupying roofs of high buildings.
Iqbal Abdullah said the military cordon prevents civil servants from going to work and has made it impossible for students to join school. “The Doura area is besieged by U.S. and Iraqi troops. I have not been able to go to work for nearly two weeks. The troops prevent people from walking or moving from one place to another,” she said.
Saad Mohammed, a taxi driver, said he had not been able to drive for all this period. “The Doura area is under complete siege. There are no shops, no pharmacy, and no clinic. There is no electricity or water. We are passing through real tragedy,” he said. Omer Ahmad said the troops would not even allow a person to shop from other areas. “The forces in Doura do not allow residents to even walk in the district. Several people have been either injured or killed by snipers as they tried to leave their homes,” he said.
Doura is one of the most violent quarters of Baghdad. The rebels have imposed strict Islamic jurisprudence on the population which included a sizeable Christian minority.
Labels: Doura, U.S.-Iraqi security forces, violence
Monday, June 04, 2007
Rising tensions between Sunnis insurgents and Kurds as second bridge is bombed
Security
(New York Times) - Bomb blasts severely damaged a bridge linking a highway from Baghdad with the northern city of Kirkuk on Saturday, the police and witnesses said, heightening tensions between Arabs and Kurds and forcing traffic to detour through some of the most dangerous areas of Diyala Province.
An American tank firing at insurgents near Falluja also killed three Iraqi children on Saturday, according to a military statement, and an American helicopter was damaged by gunfire north of Baghdad and forced to land.
In Baghdad, a barrage of mortar shells killed at least seven people.
The destruction of the Sarha bridge, about 100 miles north of Baghdad and one of the busiest crossings for vehicles moving between the capital and Kirkuk, appeared to be part of an effort by Sunni insurgents to isolate Kirkuk and limit interaction between residents of different areas and sects.
Salah al-Mufaraji, a prominent tribal leader who lives near the Sarha bridge, said groups aligned with Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia were responsible for the bombing. “Gunmen move through the area freely amid the absence of the government and because the security forces can’t control the area,” he said. “All the people living here have announced allegiance to Al Qaeda out of fear and because they can’t confront it.”
Abbas Hilmi, a taxi driver who travels between Baghdad and Kirkuk, said that damage to the bridge would hurt the already hobbled local economy. “It’s miserable,” he said. “We’re taxi drivers. We need the roads.” It was the second bridge leading to Kirkuk bombed this week, local leaders said, and it came on a day when a prominent Sunni tribal leader was found dead south of the city after being kidnapped Friday.
The killing and the bridge bombing reflected rising tensions in the oil-rich area between Kurds and Sunni insurgents who oppose Kurdish plans to make the area part of the north’s Kurdish-controlled region. The Iraqi Constitution calls for a referendum on the issue this year and Iraqi and American officials have predicted that violence will increase before the vote.
Residents said that frustration with the violence committed by Sunni extremists appeared to be rising in the province, but its impact is questionable. On Friday, in southern Baquba, a Sunni cleric called for joint Sunni-Shiite prayers. Only four Shiites attended, but according to several witnesses, who declined to be named, the cleric spoke harshly of Al Qaeda and called upon all of the area’s armed groups to unite against it.
Gunmen standing outside the mosque said they were preparing to fight back and had asked the American military for help. Despite the recent decision by American commanders to funnel additional troops into the area, and initial signs of local resistance, there have been few signs of improvement.
An American tank firing at insurgents near Falluja also killed three Iraqi children on Saturday, according to a military statement, and an American helicopter was damaged by gunfire north of Baghdad and forced to land.
In Baghdad, a barrage of mortar shells killed at least seven people.
The destruction of the Sarha bridge, about 100 miles north of Baghdad and one of the busiest crossings for vehicles moving between the capital and Kirkuk, appeared to be part of an effort by Sunni insurgents to isolate Kirkuk and limit interaction between residents of different areas and sects.
Salah al-Mufaraji, a prominent tribal leader who lives near the Sarha bridge, said groups aligned with Al Qaeda in Mesopotamia were responsible for the bombing. “Gunmen move through the area freely amid the absence of the government and because the security forces can’t control the area,” he said. “All the people living here have announced allegiance to Al Qaeda out of fear and because they can’t confront it.”
Abbas Hilmi, a taxi driver who travels between Baghdad and Kirkuk, said that damage to the bridge would hurt the already hobbled local economy. “It’s miserable,” he said. “We’re taxi drivers. We need the roads.” It was the second bridge leading to Kirkuk bombed this week, local leaders said, and it came on a day when a prominent Sunni tribal leader was found dead south of the city after being kidnapped Friday.
The killing and the bridge bombing reflected rising tensions in the oil-rich area between Kurds and Sunni insurgents who oppose Kurdish plans to make the area part of the north’s Kurdish-controlled region. The Iraqi Constitution calls for a referendum on the issue this year and Iraqi and American officials have predicted that violence will increase before the vote.
Residents said that frustration with the violence committed by Sunni extremists appeared to be rising in the province, but its impact is questionable. On Friday, in southern Baquba, a Sunni cleric called for joint Sunni-Shiite prayers. Only four Shiites attended, but according to several witnesses, who declined to be named, the cleric spoke harshly of Al Qaeda and called upon all of the area’s armed groups to unite against it.
Gunmen standing outside the mosque said they were preparing to fight back and had asked the American military for help. Despite the recent decision by American commanders to funnel additional troops into the area, and initial signs of local resistance, there have been few signs of improvement.
Labels: Al Qaeda in Iraq, Iraqi constitution, Kirkuk, Salah al-Mufaraji, Sarha Bridge, Sunni tribal leaders, violence
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Despite Baghdad security operation, violence soars
Security
(Azzaman) - Four months after the start of the U.S. military campaign to bring security to Baghdad, acts of violence, forced displacement and sectarian killings have worsened. Violence has even spread to quarters which were relatively quiet before the start of the operations which brought tens of thousands of more U.S. and Iraqi troops to the streets of the capital.
Worst hit is the Karkh side of Baghdad where pitched battles occasionally take place amid densely populated quarters. U.S. and Iraqi troops have failed to put an end to kidnapping and the dumping of unidentified bodies on the streets of Baghdad. Baghdad is divided into two quarters – Karkh and Rasafah – bisected by the Tigris River.
Assad Ali from Karkh says residents sometimes have to stay indoors for several days fearing to leave their homes due to escalating violence. “Violent acts are setting our areas on fire. It is illogical for the government to leave us to our fate,” he said. Ali said he thought the authorities were more concerned about the Rasafah side of Baghdad which he said was relatively quieter.
The ongoing violence has brought business to a halt in many areas. Workers and civil servants cannot join work, aggravating living conditions for the majority of the population. According to Muhsen Hamed property prices have dropped by almost 50 percent particularly in Karkh. “There is a continuous movement of families in the city for the most violent areas to the less violent,” he said.
Hamed said certain quarters of Baghdad with their own vigilante groups are seeing a rise in property and rent as more and more families flock there. Estate agents in Karkh say they have lost their business due to ongoing violence. “For more than a year I have not sold a single house,” said Abdullatif Raheem, an estate agent.
Raheem said even in smart areas with heavy military presence, prices property prices have dropped substantially. He said monthly rents in the smart district of Mansour have plummeted to about 250,000 (USD$200) dinars from one million.
Worst hit is the Karkh side of Baghdad where pitched battles occasionally take place amid densely populated quarters. U.S. and Iraqi troops have failed to put an end to kidnapping and the dumping of unidentified bodies on the streets of Baghdad. Baghdad is divided into two quarters – Karkh and Rasafah – bisected by the Tigris River.
Assad Ali from Karkh says residents sometimes have to stay indoors for several days fearing to leave their homes due to escalating violence. “Violent acts are setting our areas on fire. It is illogical for the government to leave us to our fate,” he said. Ali said he thought the authorities were more concerned about the Rasafah side of Baghdad which he said was relatively quieter.
The ongoing violence has brought business to a halt in many areas. Workers and civil servants cannot join work, aggravating living conditions for the majority of the population. According to Muhsen Hamed property prices have dropped by almost 50 percent particularly in Karkh. “There is a continuous movement of families in the city for the most violent areas to the less violent,” he said.
Hamed said certain quarters of Baghdad with their own vigilante groups are seeing a rise in property and rent as more and more families flock there. Estate agents in Karkh say they have lost their business due to ongoing violence. “For more than a year I have not sold a single house,” said Abdullatif Raheem, an estate agent.
Raheem said even in smart areas with heavy military presence, prices property prices have dropped substantially. He said monthly rents in the smart district of Mansour have plummeted to about 250,000 (USD$200) dinars from one million.
Labels: Baghdad, Karkh, Operation Fardh al-Qanoon, violence
Monday, May 28, 2007
Terrorist Militias Attack Three Mosques In Baghdad
Security
(Dar Al Salam Newspaper) - 27 MAY - On Friday, many innocent people were killed and wounded, most women and children, when ten mortars were launched by terrorist militias on Al Medina Al Munawrana Mosque in the Milhaniya area in west Baghdad. The mosque and the neighboring houses were damaged. As a matter of fact, this area has been witnessing a strong presence of US occupation and Iraqi forces. This area has also been attacked many times by militias in order to displace the [Sunni] residents like has happened in Hay Al Amil and other Baghdad areas.
On the other side, militias have attacked Al Hanan Mosque in the Waqif area in Raashdiya, [30 km north of Baghdad]. Many people were wounded. The criminal militia also attacked Othman Bin Afan Mosque in the Rasala with no other information being currently available about this attack.
On the other side, militias have attacked Al Hanan Mosque in the Waqif area in Raashdiya, [30 km north of Baghdad]. Many people were wounded. The criminal militia also attacked Othman Bin Afan Mosque in the Rasala with no other information being currently available about this attack.
Labels: Al Hanan Mosque, Al Medina Al Munawrana Mosque, Othman Bin Afan Mosque, violence
Friday, May 18, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(McClatchy Newspapers) - Roundup of violence in Iraq - 17 May 2007
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.
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 0700 GMT on Friday 18:
MUSSAYAB - A suicide bomber blew up his vehicle at an Iraqi police checkpoint in the town of Mussayab, south of Baghdad, killing three people and wounding four, police said. Police said most of the victims were policemen.
MUSSAYAB - A suicide bomber blew up his vehicle at an Iraqi police checkpoint in the town of Mussayab, south of Baghdad, killing three people and wounding four, police said. Police said most of the victims were policemen.
Labels: Iraq, Mussayab, policemen, suicide bomber, violence
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Battle for Basrah
Security
(Reuters) - Basra, the richest city in Iraq and gateway to the Gulf, could erupt into all-out war between rival Shi'ite groups seeking control of its vast oil wealth as British forces prepare to draw down. The power struggle between factions of the Shi'ite majority that has dominated Iraqi politics since the first post-war general elections in 2005 threatens to affect oil exports accounting for virtually all of Iraq's income.
In the latest development of a turf war that has all the ingredients of a gangster movie set in 1920s Chicago, rivals of the provincial governor fell one vote short of voting him out of office last month but have pledged to keep up the standoff. Basra, Iraq's second largest city, is more or less free of the car bombs and the violence between Shi'ites and Sunni Arabs raging in central Iraq, but it has descended into a chaos of its own. Sporadic militia battles, endemic corruption and death threats now scar the once tranquil port.
"Everyone's trying to grab resources and make a quick profit without considering a long-term programme or attempting to establish a power base for the future," said Peter Harling, an analyst for the International Crisis Group who focuses on Iraq. "The interesting thing about violence in Basra is that it's not related to the two big factors of violence elsewhere: fighting the occupation and sectarian violence," he said.
Residents fear that violence could be a sign of things to come, especially as British troops disengage from the south. Britain, which has already turned over three southern provinces to Iraqi control, is poised to reduce its 7,000-strong force in Basra to about 5,500 by the beginning of June.
In the latest development of a turf war that has all the ingredients of a gangster movie set in 1920s Chicago, rivals of the provincial governor fell one vote short of voting him out of office last month but have pledged to keep up the standoff. Basra, Iraq's second largest city, is more or less free of the car bombs and the violence between Shi'ites and Sunni Arabs raging in central Iraq, but it has descended into a chaos of its own. Sporadic militia battles, endemic corruption and death threats now scar the once tranquil port.
"Everyone's trying to grab resources and make a quick profit without considering a long-term programme or attempting to establish a power base for the future," said Peter Harling, an analyst for the International Crisis Group who focuses on Iraq. "The interesting thing about violence in Basra is that it's not related to the two big factors of violence elsewhere: fighting the occupation and sectarian violence," he said.
Residents fear that violence could be a sign of things to come, especially as British troops disengage from the south. Britain, which has already turned over three southern provinces to Iraqi control, is poised to reduce its 7,000-strong force in Basra to about 5,500 by the beginning of June.
The power struggle involves militias and politicians loyal to young Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, the Fadhila party and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC). Locally powerful Fadhila, which controls key oil industry jobs in Basra, opposes the creation of a Shi'ite "super-region" espoused by SIIC, the dominant Shi'ite faction in Iraq.
Basra Governor Mohammed al-Waeli, from Fadhila, wants a Basra region of its own, independent from Najaf to the north, seat of the Shi'ite political establishment but bereft of oil. "Federalism is a large factor behind the dispute," said one Fadhila official who declined to be identified. Waeli could not be reached for an interview despite several requests by Reuters.
One of Waeli's main opponents, former governor Hasan al-Rashid from SIIC's Badr Organization, said his allies had received death threats warning them against deposing Waeli. "There are several points why we are opposed to him, including Basra's worsening security and his constant absence from the provincial council," Rashid told Reuters.
Some in Basra are worried that a British withdrawal would encourage groups to use force to control the oil fields. With sabotage halting exports in northern fields, the Basra terminal is essentially Iraq's only source of income at present. Attacks by suspected militants against British forces are on the rise -- April was the deadliest month for British troops since the first month of the war -- but a spokeswoman for the British consulate in Basra played down fears of political warfare after the planned reduction in British forces.
Basra Governor Mohammed al-Waeli, from Fadhila, wants a Basra region of its own, independent from Najaf to the north, seat of the Shi'ite political establishment but bereft of oil. "Federalism is a large factor behind the dispute," said one Fadhila official who declined to be identified. Waeli could not be reached for an interview despite several requests by Reuters.
One of Waeli's main opponents, former governor Hasan al-Rashid from SIIC's Badr Organization, said his allies had received death threats warning them against deposing Waeli. "There are several points why we are opposed to him, including Basra's worsening security and his constant absence from the provincial council," Rashid told Reuters.
Some in Basra are worried that a British withdrawal would encourage groups to use force to control the oil fields. With sabotage halting exports in northern fields, the Basra terminal is essentially Iraq's only source of income at present. Attacks by suspected militants against British forces are on the rise -- April was the deadliest month for British troops since the first month of the war -- but a spokeswoman for the British consulate in Basra played down fears of political warfare after the planned reduction in British forces.
COMMENT: The 'word on the street' is that the recent clashes in Basrah actually have nothing to do with serving the people. The actual reason for this fighting is: oil smuggling revenue; reconstruction contracts; and Iranian influence. COMMENT ENDS.
Labels: Basra, Fadhela party, militias, Mohammed al-Waeli, Moqtada Al-Sadr, politics, SIIC, Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, violence
Monday, May 14, 2007
Iran, U.S. to discuss stabilising Iraq
Security, Politics, International
(Washington Post) - The White House announced today that the American ambassador in Baghdad would likely meet in the next several weeks with Iranian officials about stabilizing Iraq, as the administration embraced a tactic outsiders have long recommended as essential to reducing sectarian violence in Iraq. A White House spokesman said that Ambassador Ryan Crocker would meet with Iranian counterparts in Baghdad to prod Tehran to play a "productive role in Iraq." The confirmation came after the official Iranian news agency disclosed that the two sides had agreed to meet in Baghdad.
"The president authorized this channel because we must take every step possible to stabilize Iraq and reduce the risk to our troops even as our military continue to act against hostile Iranian-backed activity in Iraq," said Gordon D. Johndroe, the spokesman for the National Security Council.
A year ago, the White House authorized discussions about Iraq with Iran, but talks never got off the ground. As recently as December, when the Iraq Study Group recommended diplomatic dialogue with Iran and Syria, administration officials indicated little interest in such talks, insisting that Iran first abandon nuclear enrichment activities.
But with pressure growing from Congress to show results in halting the violence in Iraq, the administration appears to have concluded that it's worth trying to see if Iran can use its influence in Iraq to help curb violence and spur political reconciliation. The administration is also shifting its stance toward Syria, another country with which it has had chilly relations, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meeting earlier this month in Egypt with her Syrian counterpart.
Administration officials stressed that the talks with Iran would be limited to the security situation in Iraq and would not include negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, which are being handled by America's European allies. The United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran after U.S. diplomats were taken hostage in 1979; the administration has accused Tehran of helping foment violence in Iraq.
"The president authorized this channel because we must take every step possible to stabilize Iraq and reduce the risk to our troops even as our military continue to act against hostile Iranian-backed activity in Iraq," said Gordon D. Johndroe, the spokesman for the National Security Council.
A year ago, the White House authorized discussions about Iraq with Iran, but talks never got off the ground. As recently as December, when the Iraq Study Group recommended diplomatic dialogue with Iran and Syria, administration officials indicated little interest in such talks, insisting that Iran first abandon nuclear enrichment activities.
But with pressure growing from Congress to show results in halting the violence in Iraq, the administration appears to have concluded that it's worth trying to see if Iran can use its influence in Iraq to help curb violence and spur political reconciliation. The administration is also shifting its stance toward Syria, another country with which it has had chilly relations, with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice meeting earlier this month in Egypt with her Syrian counterpart.
Administration officials stressed that the talks with Iran would be limited to the security situation in Iraq and would not include negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, which are being handled by America's European allies. The United States broke diplomatic relations with Iran after U.S. diplomats were taken hostage in 1979; the administration has accused Tehran of helping foment violence in Iraq.
A statement from the official Iranian news agency suggested the new talks were at the behest of Washington, though Johndroe would not say who initiated the new dialogue. "Following consultations between Iranian and Iraqi officials, Tehran has agreed to hold negotiations with Washington to relieve pains and suffering of the Iraqi people, support and strengthen the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and stabilize security and peace in that country," said Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini.
Labels: Gordon D. Johndroe, Iran, Iraq, Mohammad-Ali Hosseini, Ryan Crocker, U.S., violence
Al Qaeda controls most of Diyala while parliament makes suggestions on security situation
Security
(Al Mada Newspaper AR.) - 13 MAY - According to eyewitnesses, insurgent groups control most of Baquba’s areas, plus other areas of Diyala Province. And, at the same time, the Iraqi and US forces have not made any progress against the insurgent groups.
An eyewitnesses told Al Mada Newspaper, “This bad security situation, in Diyala Province, began before Baghdad’s new security plan “Operation Enforcing the Law” started… Therefore, we do not agree with the US Army’s statement that the reason behind Diyala’s bad security situation is due to terrorists who ran away from Baghdad and came to Diyala Province.”
The Commander of US forces in Diyala Province said, “Currently, I only have 3,500 US soldiers; in order to restore security in Diyala Province I will need 3,000 more soldiers.” The eyewitnesses said, “We are shocked, because the (Iraqi) government has done nothing for us. Al Qaeda has killed 11,200 of Diyala’s people, displaced 9,500 families, and now we have 8,250 widows and 16,500 orphans… Al Qaeda has also destroyed 66 Shrines.”
[NOTE: The Newspaper noted that these numbers were provided by (displaced) Diyala residents, now living in Karbala Province who have conducted demonstrations about the conditions in Diyala Province. The witnesses also said, “Some clashes have occurred between the insurgents but Al Qaeda now controls many of Diyala’s government facilities." The witnesses added that recently the Shamarri, Tamim, Karkhiya, and Mujamah tribes have established a “coalition.”
In related news: yesterday, Iraq’s Parliament held a session to discuss Diyala’s security situation. A Parliament Committee had visited the displaced Diyala residents in Karbala Province who had protested about Diyala Province’s situation. This Parliament Committee made suggestions (about actions which) the security forces should take, such as:
Secure the main roads which lead to Baquba City, especially, secure the Baquba-Baghdad (Highway) route,
Conduct wide-spread military operations to “clean the terrorists out of” Diyala Province,
Form a (special) court to punish the criminals,
Punish the [corrupt and/or inefficient/incompetent] security officials in Diyala,
Form a committee to compensate the citizens who suffered losses or damages.
[NOTE: The Newspaper noted that these numbers were provided by (displaced) Diyala residents, now living in Karbala Province who have conducted demonstrations about the conditions in Diyala Province. The witnesses also said, “Some clashes have occurred between the insurgents but Al Qaeda now controls many of Diyala’s government facilities." The witnesses added that recently the Shamarri, Tamim, Karkhiya, and Mujamah tribes have established a “coalition.”
In related news: yesterday, Iraq’s Parliament held a session to discuss Diyala’s security situation. A Parliament Committee had visited the displaced Diyala residents in Karbala Province who had protested about Diyala Province’s situation. This Parliament Committee made suggestions (about actions which) the security forces should take, such as:
Secure the main roads which lead to Baquba City, especially, secure the Baquba-Baghdad (Highway) route,
Conduct wide-spread military operations to “clean the terrorists out of” Diyala Province,
Form a (special) court to punish the criminals,
Punish the [corrupt and/or inefficient/incompetent] security officials in Diyala,
Form a committee to compensate the citizens who suffered losses or damages.
Labels: Baqouba, Diyala, insurgents, Iraqi parliament, Karkhiya, Mujamah, Shamarri, Tamim, tribal coalition, violence
U.S. sending more troops to Diyala
Security
(RFE/RL) - The U.S. military said today it will send 3,000 more troops to violence-ridden Diyala Governorate, northeast of Baghdad. U.S. Major General Benjamin Mixon, the commander of the division that oversees Diyala, requested the troop reinforcements last week. The turbulent region to the north and east of Baghdad has seen a series of attacks recently, including a roadside bomb blast last week that killed six U.S. soldiers and a Russian journalist.
Labels: Diyala, Major General Benjamin Mixon, troop reinforcements, violence
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Iraqis demonstrate against Cheney's visit
Politics
(Al Jazeera) - The US vice-president has urged Iraqi leaders to end fighting and act on overcoming sectarian differences on a visit to Iraq's capital. Dick Cheney kicked off a week-long Middle East tour on Wednesday but his Baghdad stop was met by demonstrations and spiralling violence punctuated by an explosion that shook windows at the US embassy he was at.
He met Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister, to discuss security issues and "challenges we are facing in our own political process". He also urged parliament to abandon plans for a two-month summer vacation, saying with important issues pending, "any undue delay would be difficult to explain".
Cheney said Iraqi leaders felt sectarian violence was "down fairly dramatically" even though car bombings and suicide attacks still claim a heavy toll. "I think everybody recognises there still are serious security problems, security threats, no question about it", adding that "we've got a long way to go. I emphasised the importance of making progress on the issues before us, not only the security issues but also on the political issues that are pending before the Iraqi government," he said. "I do believe that there is a greater sense of urgency now than I'd seen previously."
Despite his claims of progress, hundreds of Iraqis took to the streets of Baghdad and Najaf to protest against his visit and call for the withdrawal of US troops. Cheney was at the US embassy inside the heavily protected Green Zone in central Baghdad when an explosion rattled windows, prompting officials to move reporters to the basement for several minutes.
Witnesses said a mortar or rocket appeared to have been fired from the mostly Shia areas on the east side of the Tigris river towards the Green Zone. In Washington, sagging public opinion of George Bush, the US president, has put pressure on the White House to show al-Maliki's government is making progress in attaining stability.
He met Nuri al-Maliki, the prime minister, to discuss security issues and "challenges we are facing in our own political process". He also urged parliament to abandon plans for a two-month summer vacation, saying with important issues pending, "any undue delay would be difficult to explain".
Cheney said Iraqi leaders felt sectarian violence was "down fairly dramatically" even though car bombings and suicide attacks still claim a heavy toll. "I think everybody recognises there still are serious security problems, security threats, no question about it", adding that "we've got a long way to go. I emphasised the importance of making progress on the issues before us, not only the security issues but also on the political issues that are pending before the Iraqi government," he said. "I do believe that there is a greater sense of urgency now than I'd seen previously."
Despite his claims of progress, hundreds of Iraqis took to the streets of Baghdad and Najaf to protest against his visit and call for the withdrawal of US troops. Cheney was at the US embassy inside the heavily protected Green Zone in central Baghdad when an explosion rattled windows, prompting officials to move reporters to the basement for several minutes.
Witnesses said a mortar or rocket appeared to have been fired from the mostly Shia areas on the east side of the Tigris river towards the Green Zone. In Washington, sagging public opinion of George Bush, the US president, has put pressure on the White House to show al-Maliki's government is making progress in attaining stability.
US troop withdrawal will begin later this year if progress is shown. The vice-president's visit comes two days after Bush held a video conference with al-Maliki about achieving political reconciliation among the majority Shia, the Sunnis and the Kurds.
Labels: demonstration, Dick Cheney, IDF, Najaf, Nouri Al-Maliki, politics, violence
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Hundreds of families flee Baghdad as fighting escalates
Security
(Azzaman) - Fighting is escalating in several districts of Baghdad forcing hundreds of families to flee their homes. In Bayaa, a low-income neighborhood, militias and police have joined forces in attacking rebel hideouts and the ensuing fighting has caused scores of casualties.
The neighborhood’s inhabitants have written to the government to put a halt to military operations and stop the exodus of families but to no avail. U.S. troops are involved in the fighting which is reported to have resulted in 35 civilian deaths and more than 63 injured in only one major attack.
Despite the intensity of fighting and the deployment of militias as well as government troops, there is no sign that the government will eventually bring peace to the neighborhood. Many parts are still under the control of rebels who are said to be using various weapons. Life has come to a standstill in Bayaa and other districts and many inhabitants wonder whether there will be an end to the current security plan to pacify Baghdad, already in its third month.
Conditions are said to be even worse at the Saydiya and Doura districts which the joint U.S. and Iraqi forces have ostensibly failed to control. With the U.S. and Iraqi forces concentrated in Baghdad, the rebels have strengthened their grip on several cities and towns to the west and north of the capital. Most parts of the northern city of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest, are in rebel hands.
The neighborhood’s inhabitants have written to the government to put a halt to military operations and stop the exodus of families but to no avail. U.S. troops are involved in the fighting which is reported to have resulted in 35 civilian deaths and more than 63 injured in only one major attack.
Despite the intensity of fighting and the deployment of militias as well as government troops, there is no sign that the government will eventually bring peace to the neighborhood. Many parts are still under the control of rebels who are said to be using various weapons. Life has come to a standstill in Bayaa and other districts and many inhabitants wonder whether there will be an end to the current security plan to pacify Baghdad, already in its third month.
Conditions are said to be even worse at the Saydiya and Doura districts which the joint U.S. and Iraqi forces have ostensibly failed to control. With the U.S. and Iraqi forces concentrated in Baghdad, the rebels have strengthened their grip on several cities and towns to the west and north of the capital. Most parts of the northern city of Mosul, Iraq’s second largest, are in rebel hands.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 0700 GMT on Sunday:
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 11 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Saturday, police said.
BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed one person and wounded nine others in the Karrada district of central Baghdad late on Saturday, police said.
BAGHDAD - Three people were killed and four wounded when a mortar round landed in the Shi'ite district of Abu Dshir in southern Baghdad on Saturday, police said.
NEAR BALAD - Gunmen killed a police colonel on Saturday in the town of Yethrib, near Balad, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
KIRKUK - Six civilians were wounded on Saturday when several mortar rounds landed in the city of Kirkuk, 250 km (150 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - The bodies of 11 people were found shot in different districts of Baghdad on Saturday, police said.
BAGHDAD - A roadside bomb killed one person and wounded nine others in the Karrada district of central Baghdad late on Saturday, police said.
BAGHDAD - Three people were killed and four wounded when a mortar round landed in the Shi'ite district of Abu Dshir in southern Baghdad on Saturday, police said.
NEAR BALAD - Gunmen killed a police colonel on Saturday in the town of Yethrib, near Balad, 80 km (50 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
KIRKUK - Six civilians were wounded on Saturday when several mortar rounds landed in the city of Kirkuk, 250 km (150 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
Roundup of Iraq Violence -- May 5, 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.
Labels: Iraq, security, violence
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Round-up of security incidents in Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 1130 GMT on Saturday:
* Denotes new or updated item.
BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber killed one policeman and wounded five others when he rammed his vehicle into the Karkh police directorate in western Baghdad, one police source said. Another police source said the car bomb detonated inside the directorate's garage and 10 policemen were wounded.
MOSUL - Unidentified gunmen kidnapped and killed a doctor as he left Mosul's main hospital on Friday, hospital sources said.
*KIRKUK - A roadside bomb killed one civilian and wounded three policemen in central Kirkuk, police said.
*SHIRQAT - Gunmen killed a police Colonel in the town of Shirqat north of Baghdad, police said.
*BAGHDAD - The bodies of 15 people were found dumped across Baghdad on Friday, police said.
*BAGHDAD - Iraqi "Special Operations Forces" captured six suspected al Qaeda militants on Friday in southwestern Baghdad, a U.S. military statement said.
*KIRKUK - A roadside bomb wounded two civilians in central Kirkuk, police said.
* Denotes new or updated item.
BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber killed one policeman and wounded five others when he rammed his vehicle into the Karkh police directorate in western Baghdad, one police source said. Another police source said the car bomb detonated inside the directorate's garage and 10 policemen were wounded.
MOSUL - Unidentified gunmen kidnapped and killed a doctor as he left Mosul's main hospital on Friday, hospital sources said.
*KIRKUK - A roadside bomb killed one civilian and wounded three policemen in central Kirkuk, police said.
*SHIRQAT - Gunmen killed a police Colonel in the town of Shirqat north of Baghdad, police said.
*BAGHDAD - The bodies of 15 people were found dumped across Baghdad on Friday, police said.
*BAGHDAD - Iraqi "Special Operations Forces" captured six suspected al Qaeda militants on Friday in southwestern Baghdad, a U.S. military statement said.
*KIRKUK - A roadside bomb wounded two civilians in central Kirkuk, police said.
Friday, April 27, 2007
Petraeus warns violence will get worse before it improves
Security
(Reuters) - The United States' struggle to stabilize Iraq may get harder before it gets easier and runs the risk of higher U.S. and Iraqi casualties, the top U.S. commander in charge of the war said on Thursday. Army Gen. David Petraeus provided his assessment the day after the Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives pushed through legislation calling for U.S. troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq by Oct. 1.
President George W. Bush has pledged to veto the bill, passed by the Senate on Thursday, and Petraeus said sectarian violence in Iraq would likely rise if his troops pulled back from securing Baghdad in the fall. "My sense is that there would be an increase in sectarian violence, a resumption of sectarian violence, were the presence of our forces and Iraqi forces, at that time, to be reduced," Petraeus told reporters at the Pentagon.
He said the new effort to curb violence with more troops, ordered by Bush in January, meant going into neighborhoods where extremists had been able to operate freely. "Because we are operating in new areas and challenging elements in those areas, this effort may get harder before it gets easier," said Petraeus, who has briefed Bush and members of Congress on the war during his visit to Washington.
"I think there is the very real possibility that there's going to be more combat action and that, therefore, there could be more casualties," he said. Petraeus said ultimate success in Iraq would be down to the Iraqis and their ability to reconcile. "We can provide the Iraqis an opportunity but they will have to exploit it," he said.
President George W. Bush has pledged to veto the bill, passed by the Senate on Thursday, and Petraeus said sectarian violence in Iraq would likely rise if his troops pulled back from securing Baghdad in the fall. "My sense is that there would be an increase in sectarian violence, a resumption of sectarian violence, were the presence of our forces and Iraqi forces, at that time, to be reduced," Petraeus told reporters at the Pentagon.
He said the new effort to curb violence with more troops, ordered by Bush in January, meant going into neighborhoods where extremists had been able to operate freely. "Because we are operating in new areas and challenging elements in those areas, this effort may get harder before it gets easier," said Petraeus, who has briefed Bush and members of Congress on the war during his visit to Washington.
"I think there is the very real possibility that there's going to be more combat action and that, therefore, there could be more casualties," he said. Petraeus said ultimate success in Iraq would be down to the Iraqis and their ability to reconcile. "We can provide the Iraqis an opportunity but they will have to exploit it," he said.
Labels: General David Petraeus, Iraq, Iraqi Army, U.S. military, U.S. troop withdrawal, violence
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Round-up of violence across Iraq
Security
(Reuters) - Security developments in Iraq as of 1030 GMT on Thursday:
BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber rammed his car into a fuel tanker, killing 10 people and wounding 21 in the southern Jadriya district of Baghdad, police said.
KIRKUK - Gunmen wounded seven employees working in the North Oil Company when they attacked their vehicle in Kirkuk, police said.
BAQUBA - Gunmen attacked a police patrol, killing one policeman and wounding five others in the religiously mixed city of Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi army killed 20 insurgents and arrested 84 others during the last 24 hours in operations across Iraq, police said.
SHIRQAT - Police said they found four charred dead bodies inside a car in the town of Shirqat, south of Mosul.
BAGHDAD - A suicide car bomber rammed his car into a fuel tanker, killing 10 people and wounding 21 in the southern Jadriya district of Baghdad, police said.
KIRKUK - Gunmen wounded seven employees working in the North Oil Company when they attacked their vehicle in Kirkuk, police said.
BAQUBA - Gunmen attacked a police patrol, killing one policeman and wounding five others in the religiously mixed city of Baquba, 65 km (40 miles) north of Baghdad, police said.
BAGHDAD - Iraqi army killed 20 insurgents and arrested 84 others during the last 24 hours in operations across Iraq, police said.
SHIRQAT - Police said they found four charred dead bodies inside a car in the town of Shirqat, south of Mosul.
Labels: Baghdad, Baqouba, car bomb, gunmen, Iraq, Kirkuk, North Oil Company, Shirqat, violence
Over 200 killed in bloodiest day since start of security operation
Security
(AP) - Grieving relatives retrieved bodies from hospital morgues Thursday, and passers-by gawked at the giant crater left by a market bomb in one of four attacks that killed 183 people on the bloodiest day since the U.S. troop increase began nine weeks ago. But violence did not abate Thursday, as a suicide bomber exploded in another mostly Shiite district, killing at least 11 people and wounding 28, police said. The car bomb exploded next to a fuel tanker in Karradah, setting fire to the truck. The death toll was expected to rise.
Many of the more than 230 Iraqis killed or found dead nationwide a day earlier were buried in quiet ceremonies before Thursday's noon prayer, according to Muslim tradition. Other bodies lay in refrigeration containers, still unidentified, at morgues across Baghdad. The most devastating blast struck the Sadriyah market as workers were leaving for the day, charring a lineup of minibuses that came to pick them up. At least 127 people were killed and 148 wounded, including men who were rebuilding the market after a Feb. 3 bombing left 137 dead.
On Thursday, collective wakes were being held for multiple victims in huge tents erected in narrow alleys and at nearby mosques within view of the blast site. Onlookers gathered around a crater about three yards wide and one yard deep, left by the force of the explosion. The car bombing appeared meticulously planned. It took place at a pedestrian entrance where tall concrete barriers had been erected after the earlier attack. It was the only way out of the compound, and the construction workers were widely known to leave at about 4 p.m., the time of the bombing.
U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told The Associated Press that al-Qaida in Iraq was suspected in the bombing. "Initial indications based on intelligence sources show that it was linked to al-Qaida," Caldwell said in a late-night telephone interview. The attacks appeared to be yet another attempt by Sunni insurgents and al-Qaida to force Shiite militiamen back onto the streets. Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had ordered his Mahdi Army fighters to put away their weapons and go underground before the security crackdown began, leaving regions like those bombed on Wednesday highly vulnerable.
An outburst of violence from the Shiite militia would also ease pressure on the Sunni insurgents, creating a second front for U.S. and Iraqi soldiers struggling to diminish violence in the capital and provide time for the Iraqi government to gather momentum for sectarian reconciliation.
Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, the Iraqi military spokesman, said, "We have not seen such a wave of attacks since the security plan began. These are terrorist challenges. Ninety-five percent of those killed today were civilians." Late Wednesday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the arrest of the Iraqi army colonel who was in charge of security in the region around the Sadriyah market. The colonel's name was not given.
The 127 deaths in Wednesday's market bombing were recorded by Raad Muhsin, an official at the al-Kindi Hospital morgue where the victims were taken. A police official confirmed the toll, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.
Besides the market attack, bombs struck Shiite targets in the capital at a police checkpoint, near a hospital and in a small bus. Nationwide the number of people killed Wednesday or found dead was 233, which was second only to a total of 281 killed or found dead on Nov. 23, 2006. Those figures are according to AP record-keeping, which began in May 2005.
Many of the more than 230 Iraqis killed or found dead nationwide a day earlier were buried in quiet ceremonies before Thursday's noon prayer, according to Muslim tradition. Other bodies lay in refrigeration containers, still unidentified, at morgues across Baghdad. The most devastating blast struck the Sadriyah market as workers were leaving for the day, charring a lineup of minibuses that came to pick them up. At least 127 people were killed and 148 wounded, including men who were rebuilding the market after a Feb. 3 bombing left 137 dead.
On Thursday, collective wakes were being held for multiple victims in huge tents erected in narrow alleys and at nearby mosques within view of the blast site. Onlookers gathered around a crater about three yards wide and one yard deep, left by the force of the explosion. The car bombing appeared meticulously planned. It took place at a pedestrian entrance where tall concrete barriers had been erected after the earlier attack. It was the only way out of the compound, and the construction workers were widely known to leave at about 4 p.m., the time of the bombing.
U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell told The Associated Press that al-Qaida in Iraq was suspected in the bombing. "Initial indications based on intelligence sources show that it was linked to al-Qaida," Caldwell said in a late-night telephone interview. The attacks appeared to be yet another attempt by Sunni insurgents and al-Qaida to force Shiite militiamen back onto the streets. Radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr had ordered his Mahdi Army fighters to put away their weapons and go underground before the security crackdown began, leaving regions like those bombed on Wednesday highly vulnerable.
An outburst of violence from the Shiite militia would also ease pressure on the Sunni insurgents, creating a second front for U.S. and Iraqi soldiers struggling to diminish violence in the capital and provide time for the Iraqi government to gather momentum for sectarian reconciliation.
Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, the Iraqi military spokesman, said, "We have not seen such a wave of attacks since the security plan began. These are terrorist challenges. Ninety-five percent of those killed today were civilians." Late Wednesday, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the arrest of the Iraqi army colonel who was in charge of security in the region around the Sadriyah market. The colonel's name was not given.
The 127 deaths in Wednesday's market bombing were recorded by Raad Muhsin, an official at the al-Kindi Hospital morgue where the victims were taken. A police official confirmed the toll, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information.
Besides the market attack, bombs struck Shiite targets in the capital at a police checkpoint, near a hospital and in a small bus. Nationwide the number of people killed Wednesday or found dead was 233, which was second only to a total of 281 killed or found dead on Nov. 23, 2006. Those figures are according to AP record-keeping, which began in May 2005.
Labels: Al Qaeda in Iraq, Baghdad, Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, Karrada, Sadriyah market, suicide bomber, violence
