NewsMine — war-on-terror — iraq — insurgency — 2006 — 06-jan-apr — Viewing Item

Foreigners not civil war says US military Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060223/pl_afp/iraqunrestus http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060223/pl_afp/iraqunrestus US military denies Iraq on brink of civil war Thu Feb 23, 11:13 AM ET BAGHDAD (AFP) - The US military rejected the idea that a civil war is brewing in Iraq, saying it had confirmed only seven major attacks on mosques across the country. Major General Rick Lynch, spokesman for the coalition forces in Iraq, said the military had recorded attacks on seven Sunni mosques since the bombing of the revered Shiite shrine in Samarra on Wednesday. "As of now seven attacks on mosques across Iraq have taken place that resulted in damage to mosques. Two Sunni imams (prayer leaders) and one Sunni sheikh were murdered," Lynch told reporters, playing down the sectarian strife. "Some drive-by shootings against mosques have been reported ... that's where we are. So we are not seeing civil war igniting in Iraq. We are not seeing 77, 80, 100 mosques damaged in Iraq. We are not seeing death on the streets." More than 80 bodies of people who had been shot dead were brought to Baghdad's morgue between Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning, according to its deputy director. In addition, 47 workers from a brick factory were murdered Thursday on the outskirts of the capital, police said. Iraqi security officials and Sunni leaders said around 30 Sunni mosques were attacked Wednesday following the bombing of the 1,000-year-old Imam Ali al-Hadi mausoleum, a revered Shiite shrine, in the northern town of Samarra. Lynch said a total of 20 peaceful demonstrations had taken place across Iraq over the past 36 hours, but admitted "there were some demonstrations that were violent." "We are seeing a confident Iraqi government using capable security forces to calm the storm that was inflammated by a horrendous terrorist attack yesterday against the golden mosque," Lynch added. He confirmed that all Iraqi security forces were on alert, and "everybody who was on leave has been called back". An overnight curfew has also been extended in Baghdad and Samarra, he said. Lynch said US forces had not expected an attack against the Samarra shrine. He suggested that the bombing resulted from a growing rift between local people in Samarra and "foreign fighters" who had decided to strike at a symbol of the city. "What we saw in Samarra was an indication of what is happening with the terrorists and foreign fighters," he said. The bombing, he suggested, bore "a signature of (Abu Musab al-) Zarqawi and terrorists and foreign fighters," he said in reference to the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.

130 dead in series of iraq attacks { December 2006 } 36 dead after blast in baghdad vegetable market 3800 executed in iraq first three months of 2006 65 thousand refugees flee sectarian violence 70 iraqis killed in spasm of violence { March 13 2006 } Air strikes target civilians { January 3 2006 } Apparent iraqi death squad discovered { February 17 2006 } Big assault has no contract with insurgents { March 17 2006 } Blast destroys golden dome of shiite shrine Blast hits sunni mosque in iraq Blast kills 16 near shiite mosque in baghdad Bomb explodes in crowded market Bomb kills 80 sunnis turns city against alqaeda Bombed sunni shrine is mistaken as shiite { February 24 2006 } Brits deny iran bombing allegations Cheney says iraq is not in civil war { February 2006 } Cost of war to pass 1 trillion { March 17 2006 } Fears of civil war after reprisals { February 23 2006 } Foreigners not civil war says US military Government bans traffic in baghdad Gunmen kill woman after car bomb hits sunni mosque { February 10 2006 } Gunmen posing as police kill sunnis in retaliation Insurgents posing as police attach shiite shrine { February 22 2006 } Iran says US and israel destroyed iraqi shrine Iraq abductors threaten to kill peace activists { January 29 2006 } Iraq blast kills 10 shiite leader delay parliament Iraq civil war to spread across middle east { March 19 2006 } Iraq politican blames foreign intelligence for shrine attack { February 24 2006 } Iraqis 700k christians celebrate easter Iraqis burn flag before prayer fri mar 10 2006 [jpg] Largest air assault since 2003 invasion 2006 mar Major january attacks kill 70 sunnis { January 6 2006 } Marines beat back sunni arab insurgents { March 2006 } Militants attack iraq fuel convoy Military asserts most iraq is peaceful { February 2006 } Over 100 iraqis killed in sectarian violence { February 24 2006 } Palestinians targeted in iraq Peace activist quaker slain in iraq { March 12 2006 } Police chief claims attack on alsadr to divide iraqis Political progress destabilized by another attack { March 13 2006 } Press says iraq near civil war after 68 killed Retaliation on sunnis after deliberate sectarian attempt Shiites pissed at US military raid on mosque Sister of iraqi vice president shot dead Suicide bomber kills 36 at funeral procession { January 4 2006 } Sunni chief seeks release of US reporter Sunni mosque bombed as iraqi tanks deploy in baghdad { February 27 2006 } Three explosions at shiite mosque in baghdad Troops cant find insurgents in major assault Unknown kidnapped briton freed by accident US commander says iraq crisis has passed { February 2006 } US military seizes iraqi reporter for guardian { January 9 2006 } US troops raid sunni clerical scholars group Young clerics call for american hatred { February 26 2006 } Files Listed: 54

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