NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2005 — 05-sept-dec — Viewing Item

Insurgents bomb sunni arab office in iraq Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1212189 http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1212189 Insurgents Bomb Sunni Arab Office in Iraq Sunni Arab Political Party That Dropped Opposition to Iraqi Constitution Attacked in Baghdad By THOMAS WAGNER The Associated Press BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents determined to derail this weekend's referendum bombed an office of Iraq's largest Sunni Arab political party on Friday, after the group dropped its opposition to the draft constitution. No one was wounded by the roadside bomb outside the Iraqi Islamic Party office in Fadhal, a district of central Baghdad. The attack was rare in that it targeted Sunnis, the ethnic group behind the insurgency, and appeared aimed at punishing the party for deciding to end its "no" campaign. Lawmakers agreed Wednesday night to several amendments to the constitution designed to win Sunni support in Saturday's vote. The Iraqi Islamic Party subsequently removed banners urging a "no" vote from prominent positions around the capital. "This attack by insurgents against the Islamic Party was expected because of its new stand toward the referendum," Iraqi army Maj. Salman Abdul Yahid said in an interview. "Insurgents had threatened to attack the group and its leaders to get revenge." A senior party official, Alaa Makki, condemned the attack, saying it won't stop the group's efforts to "use the political process to fight terrorism and promote stability in Iraq." But other Sunni Arab parties still oppose the charter. They fear it would leave them isolated in central and western Iraq while Kurds in the north and Shiites in the south capitalize on Iraq's oil wealth. The changes approved by the National Assembly were worked out by Shiite, Kurdish and Sunni powerbrokers. They will allow a parliament elected in December to adopt amendments to the constitution. But that compromise didn't please everyone. Industry Minister Osama al-Najafi, a Sunni member in Iraq's Cabinet, predicted on Friday that Iraqis will reject the document. "If the Iraqis are given the opportunity to vote freely, they will say no," he said during a visit to Malaysia. "The constitution does not represent the aspirations of all Iraqi people." The draft constitution being voted on Saturday requires a majority, and it will be adopted unless two-thirds of voters in three provinces vote "no." Sunnis only have a majority in four of Iraq's 18 provinces. The attack on the Iraqi Islamic Party came as coalition forces closed Iraq's borders and its international airport in Baghdad in another effort to protect voters. Government offices and schools also were closed Friday, the start of a four-day national holiday. All civilian vehicles will be banned on Saturday as Iraqis are expected to walk to 6,100 polling centers in Iraq. The referendum is an important step toward President Bush's goal of withdrawing the tens of thousands of U.S. forces from Iraq after establishing a stable and democratic government strong enough to fight insurgents. Coalition forces have warned of a spike in militant attacks ahead of Saturday's vote, and nearly 450 people have been killed over the past 19 days in a combination of suicide car bombs, roadside bombs and drive-by shootings. Many other Iraqis have been kidnapped and killed, their bodies abandoned in remote areas. Hundreds of Iraqi police and army troops have fanned out across Baghdad, setting up checkpoints and fortifying polling stations with barbed wire and blast barriers. An eerie calm has settled over the capital and other cities, with little traffic on the streets, few pedestrians and many shops closed. In Shiite areas of Baghdad, posters and banners urging a "yes" vote plastered walls and shop windows. Iraq's top Shiite cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has directed his followers to approve the constitution. But "yes" posters were few in Sunni districts. In the so-called Triangle of Death, a mainly Sunni area south of Baghdad that is known for kidnappings and killings, there was no sign of posters either. On Thursday, Iraqi troops searched cars under the watchful eyes of comrades manning machine-gun positions on the ground. U.S. helicopters hovered overhead. Traffic on the road through the "triangle" was thin. "I will vote 'yes' so as to isolate the troublemakers," said Faisal Galab, a Sunni Arab sheik from the town of Youssifiyah, about 12 miles south of Baghdad. "I have asked my family and clan to vote 'yes.'" In Baghdad, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch gave an upbeat assessment of the security situation ahead of the vote, saying the danger was far less than on the eve of the Jan. 30 parliamentary election. He noted that Iraq's security forces total 200,000 now, compared to 138,000 in January. That doesn't mean there won't be violence Saturday, he said. "The insurgents have declared war on democracy and they're going to conduct horrific acts of violence," he said. Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright © 2005 ABC News Internet Ventures

150 dead on second bloodiest day in iraq { September 15 2005 } 3 bombers strike at baghdad hotels { October 25 2005 } Allies withdrawing from iraq { November 2005 } Alqaeda says bomb revenge for offensve on sunnis Basra bomb kills contractors Bomb kills over 100 in baghdad British raids creating chaos in basra { October 10 2005 } Briton peace mission kidnapped Bus suicide bomber kills 30 in iraq Car bomb kills 23 at mosque in iraq Colonel tells iraqs attack helicopters are sounds of peace { October 3 2005 } Forces lead new offensive near syrian border { October 1 2005 } Insurgents bomb sunni arab office in iraq Insurgents control town near syrian border { September 6 2005 } Iraq insurgents kill senior sunni leader Iraq interior ministry jail reports severe torture { December 12 2005 } Iraq mosque blast killed 25 Iraqi and US troops push in northern town Iraqi forces launch offensive in western iraq Iraqs sunnis fear shiite death squads Kidnappers threaten to kill peace activists Near simultaneous bombs kill iraqis buying vegetables Roadside bomb kills 10 marines Sadr militia fights US troops after 13 month peace { September 26 2005 } Sadr residents freed journalist from criminals Sectarian hatred pulls apart iraqs mixed towns { November 20 2005 } Suicide bomber kills 41 in mosque attack Suicide car bomber kills 30 in crowded market { October 11 2005 } Sunnis blame the paramilitary for executions { October 27 2005 } Three iraqi special forces soldiers shot by americans { August 24 2005 } Troop deaths hit 1904 in iraq Troops storm empty insurgent stronghold { September 11 2005 } Troubled white belgian suicide bombs in iraq { December 2 2005 } Two iraqi insurgents are undercover british commandos { September 20 2005 } Undercover brits in basra dress as iraqis { September 20 2005 } US warplanes bombed villages and killed 39 civilians Files Listed: 36

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