The Hindu : International : Sunni, Shia groups clash near Baghdad; 23 killed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Oct 28, 2005

International

International

Sunni, Shia groups clash near Baghdad; 23 killed

Atul Aneja

Sunni scholars' group calls for boycott of December election

DUBAI: At least 23 persons have been killed in a sectarian clash In Iraq involving members of a Shia militia and Sunni guerilla fighters.

An estimated 21-militia fighters belonging to the Mehdi Army and two policemen were killed in the showdown. Details about the casualties among the Sunni armed group have no yet emerged.

Fighting in Nahrawan, southeast of Baghdad began when Mehdi Army fighters backed by the Iraqi security forces tried to force the release of one of their members who had been allegedly kidnapped by a Sunni group. The Mehdi Army is loyal to the a Shia group led by Moqtada al Sadr-a cleric who had twice revolted against the U.S. occupation and has been an advocate of Shia-Sunni unity.

Sectarian tensions in Iraq have risen following the recent referendum on the country's new constitution.

Support for charter

Shias and Kurds have supported the charter, which a large section of the Sunnis have bitterly opposed.

Analysts point out that tensions between Sunnis and Shias have rapidly escalated raising the prospects of sustained violence involving the two communities.

Meanwhile, roadside bombs and gunfire have killed three more U.S. troops and wounded four at two separate locations in Baghdad. The American military death toll has now risen to at least 2,004, since the beginning of the war in 2003, the Associated press said.

Amid the violence, preparations are underway for general elections in December, with Friday being the last day for filing nominations. The Association of Muslim Scholars - an influential Sunni radical group has called for a poll boycott.

AFP reports:

On Wednesday, three Sunni groups, the Conference of the People of Iraq, the Iraqi Islamic Party, and the Iraqi National Dialogue ``agreed to run on one list under the name Iraqi Concord Front,'' they said in a joint statement.

In a surprise move, a group led by Mr. Al-Sadr said it would present a common list of candidates with Sunni Arabs from the volatile western Al-Anbar province.

Poll alliance

The current Government is dominated by a Shia-Kurd coalition that includes the Dawa party of Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari, and the formerly Iran-based Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

Shia leaders reached an agreement to retain their United Iraqi Alliance — which swept the January polls — for the December elections.

``The United Iraqi Alliance has been revived,'' said Jawad Maliki, the number two figure in the Dawa party.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

International