Security Tension in Najaf

London-based Asharq al-Awsat, a pro-Saudi independent paper, is issued daily.

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

Wednesday, 15 February, 2006

Security Tension in Najaf

London-based Asharq al-Awsat, a pro-Saudi independent paper, is issued daily.

Medical sources in Balad, 100 kilometres north of Baghdad, announced that eleven villagers were killed, including a prominent tribal leader sheikh Hassan al-Sarhan who leads the Hayaleen tribes. The attackers' identities were unknown. The victims were all from one family and were brothers and cousins. Followers of (the young Shia cleric) Muqtada al-Sadr in Najaf announced that one civilian was killed and six other arrested in a raid by the US and Iraqi armies. Sahib al-Ameri, secretary-general of the "Shaheed Allah" organization connected to Sadr, denounced the raid and described it as a violation of Iraqi sovereignty and civil rights. The Sadr followers have an agreement with the government to help bring in suspects upon the government's request.

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