The Hindu : International : Judge, 11 policemen killed in Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 26, 2005

International

International

Judge, 11 policemen killed in Iraq

BAGHDAD, JAN. 25. Fierce clashes in eastern Baghdad left at least 11 Iraqi policemen dead on Tuesday, a hospital official said, and gunmen assassinated a senior judge in a series of slayings that highlight the grave security risks in the run-up to this weekend's elections.

Also on Tuesday, a video emerged showing an American abducted last November by gunmen in Baghdad pleading for his life and appealing to Arab rulers, especially Libya's Muamar Qadhafi, to intercede to spare his life.

The slain judge was identified as Qais Hashim Shameri, Secretary-General of the Judges Council in the Justice Ministry. Assailants sprayed his car with bullets in an attack that also killed the judge's bodyguard and wounded his driver.

The Ansar al-Sunnah Army, one of Iraq's most active Militant groups, claimed responsibility for the slaying, and in a web posting called the judge ``one of the heads of infidelity and apostasy of the new Iraqi Government.''

Assailants also shot dead a man who worked for a district council in western Baghdad as he was on his way to work, police said.

No U.S. withdrawal

Amid the violence, the Interim Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, said the time was not right to talk of a U.S. troop withdrawal and that Iraq must first build up its security forces to confront the militants.

``I will not set final dates'' for the withdrawal of international forces ``because setting final dates will be futile and dangerous,'' Mr. Allawi said.

In the video, the hostage Roy Hallums said he was asking for help from ``Arab rulers, especially President Muamar Qadhafi because he's known for helping those who are suffering.''

Fighting erupted on Tuesday in Baghdad's Rashad neighbourhood as police fired on militants handing out leaflets warning people not to vote in national elections. Altogether, 11 policeman were killed in the various clashes, according to an official.

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