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| Iraq |
| Yet another Fallujah leader assassinated |
| 2007-04-21 |
| The chairman of Fallujah's city council, an outspoken critic of al-Qaida who took the job in the former Sunni insurgent stronghold after his three predecessors were assassinated, was killed in a drive-by shooting on Saturday, police said. The assassination of Sami Abdul-Amir came as insurgents target Sunnis willing to cooperate with the U.S. and its Iraqi partners, particularly in Anbar, the volatile province that includes Fallujah, 40 miles west of Baghdad. Police said the 65-year-old sheik was shot to death by attackers in a passing car as he was walking outside his home. His predecessor, Abbas Ali Hussein, was shot to death on Feb. 2. Both men were critics of al-Qaida in Iraq, which is battling a growing number of Sunni tribes that have turned against it in a violent struggle for control of Anbar — a center for anti-U.S. guerrillas since the uprising in Fallujah in 2004 that galvanized the insurgency. U.S. officials say tribal leaders and even some other insurgents are increasingly repelled by the group's brutality and religious extremism. The tribes also are competing with al-Qaida for influence and control over diminishing territory in the face of U.S. assaults. Abdul-Amir was the only nominee to lead the 22-member council because the other potential candidates were afraid to take over the post, according to others on the panel. Some residents, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of security concerns, said they had warned Abdul-Amir not to take the job because of the dangers involved. Gunmen also broke into the home of Najim Abdullah Suod, the city council chief who preceded Hussein, killing him and his 23-year-old son on Sept. 24, 2006, while Sheik Kamal Nazal was gunned down as he walked to work on Feb. 7, 2006. |
| Posted by:Glenmore |
| #1 Abdul-Amir was the only nominee to lead the 22-member council because the other potential candidates were afraid to take over the post, according to others on the panel. was he a fool, or did he have balls the size of melons? either way i hope someone fills his spot and continues his work. we need allies on the ground. |
| Posted by: Abu do you love 2007-04-21 17:28 |