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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Insurgents throw Latifiya residents out of their homes |
| 2004-10-28 |
| Shi'ite Muslims living in the volatile southern city of Latifiya have been thrown out of their homes by insurgents and told to go to the heavily Shi'ite city of Nasiriyah further south, Ministry of Displacement and Migration (MoDM) officials working on the problem told IRIN. The fighters, who are Sunni Muslims loyal to former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein, sent messages to families in Latifiya telling them they would be killed if they didn't move out, said Emad, a worker at the MoDM who asked that his last name and position not be publicised for fear that he would also become a target. "When they saw the terrorists in their city, they were afraid," Emad said. "They saw the killing of six Shi'ite truck drivers in Fallujah six months ago." Nasiriyah was seen as a safe place where some people had relatives, he said, adding that as many as 500 families may have moved there. Latifiya and neighbouring Mamoudia are about 70 km south of Baghdad. Another road connects them directly to Fallujah, about 40 km west of the capital where many residents are believed to be loyal to Saddam Hussein. Two French journalists kidnapped on the road near Latifiya in September have not been released - the area is considered too dangerous for foreigners to visit. "The insurgents are trying to establish a Sharia [Islamic] state, according to their understanding. Maybe now families will not be allowed to move back to their homes in Latifiya," Emad said. Insurgents beginning a little 'ethnic cleansing'? |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #1 Better that the Shia not be there when the hammer falls. Afterwards, the Shia can return to claim Latifiya. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-10-28 8:48:37 PM |