? ?
WORLD / Middle East
Iraq: Revenge sought in sheik's death
(Agencies)
Updated: 2007-09-14 20:02
BAGHDAD - Mourners vowed revenge and perseverance Friday at the funeral
of the leader of the Sunni Arab revolt against al-Qaida militants who was
assassinated just 10 days after meeting with President Bush in Iraq's
Anbar province.
More than 1,500 mourners marched along the highway near the home of
Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha, who was killed along with two bodyguards and a
driver Thursday by a bomb hidden near his house, just west of Ramadi.
Scores of Iraqi police and US military vehicles lined the route to
protect the procession as it followed the black SUV carrying the sheik's
Iraqi-flag draped coffin.
"We will take our revenge," the mourners chanted along the six-mile route
to Risha's family cemetery, many of them crying. "We will continue the
march of Abu Risha."
Abu Risha was buried one year after the goateed, charismatic,
chain-smoking young sheik organized 25 Sunni Arab clans under the
umbrella of the Anbar Awakening Council, an alliance against al-Qaida in
Iraq, to drive terrorists from sanctuaries where they had flourished
after the US-led invasion in 2003.
No group claimed responsibility for the assassination, but it was widely
assumed to have been carried out by al-Qaida, which already had killed
four of Abu Risha's brothers and six other relatives for working with the
US military.
US officials credit Abu Risha and allied sheiks with a dramatic
improvement in security in such Anbar flashpoints as Fallujah and Ramadi
after years of American failure to subdue the extremists. US officials
now talk of using the Anbar model to organize tribal fighters elsewhere
in Iraq.
Bush hailed Abu Risha's courage during his short Sept. 3 visit to al-Asad
Air Base, and vowed in his nationally televised address Thursday night to
help others carry on his work.
"Earlier today, one of the brave tribal sheiks who helped lead the revolt
against al-Qaida was murdered," Bush said. "In response, a fellow Sunni
leader declared: "We are determined to strike back and continue our
work." And as they do, they can count on the continued support of the
United States."
Many high-ranking officials were on hand for the funeral, including
Iraq's interior and defense ministers and National Security Adviser
Mouwaffak al-Rubaie.
?? ?? 1?? 2?? 3?? ??
?? ?? 1?? 2?? 3?? ??
Top World News ?
* Iraq: Revenge sought in sheik's death
* Russia parliament approves Zubkov for PM
* Bush approves gradual troop cuts in Iraq
* Japan launches moon probe
* Eating less meat may slow climate change
Today's Top News ?
* China raises interest rates for 5th time in 2007
* China to bring US to WTO over dispute
* Parliament approves Zubkov for PM
* Japan's leadership race heats up
* Americans skeptical about Iraq policy
Most Commented/Read Stories in 48 Hours
Learn Chinese, Chinese language, Learning Materials, Mandarin audio lessons, Chinese writing lessons, Chinese vocabulary lists, About chinese characters, News in Chinese, Go to China, Travel to China, Study in China, Teach in China, Dictionaries, Learn Chinese Painting, Your name in Chinese, Chinese calligraphy, Chinese songs, Chinese proverbs, Chinese poetry, Chinese tattoo, Beijing 2008 Olympics, Mandarin Phrasebook, Chinese editor, Pinyin editor, China Travel, Travel to Beijing, Travel to Tibet
No comments:
Post a Comment