|
Spies fear Good Friday unrest in Iraq
SHIITE militia in Iraq are preparing to launch simultaneous attacks on coalition forces on Good Friday that could also target foreign civilians working in Iraq, an Italian newspaper reported today.Citing Italyâs military intelligence service SISMI, the report said militia would use rockets and car bombs to launch simultaneous attacks on coalition forces to mark the anniversary of the fall of Saddam Husseinâs regime on April 9. Corriere della Sera also claims SISMI has warned that foreign civilians in Iraq, particularly those working for non-governmental organisations, may be the target of attempted hostage taking by the militia groups. The newspaper said intelligence services were particularly concerned about threats against Barbara Contini, the Italian representative on the US-led Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA). The newspaper also said the SISMI believed Iran was playing a role in the revolt by militiamen of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr. "The presence of Iranian agents and military instructors has been noted in several Iraq cities, mainly in the Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Kerbala, as well as in the north of the country, in Mosul." Posted by: tipper 2004-04-07 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=29919 |