Iraq's Sunni Arabs vow to step up Qaeda battle

Iraq's Sunni Arabs vow to step up Qaeda battle
By Mariam Karouny

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/KAR147033.htm

BAGHDAD, April 2 (Reuters) - Sunni Arab officials said it was inevitable they would have to fight an all-out battle with al Qaeda-linked militants in Iraq's Sunni provinces, where a violent power struggle has begun to spill over into Baghdad.

Sunni Islamist al Qaeda in Iraq wields influence in several western and central provinces, particularly the vast Anbar region that stretches to Syria.

But their indiscriminate killing of civilians, especially in recent weeks, as well as a severe interpretation of Sunni Islam has alienated traditionally minded Sunni tribal leaders and escalated a struggle for power.

"Facing them is inevitable. If it is not done right now then it will be in the near future, we do not have another choice," said a senior member in the Accordance Front, the biggest Sunni Arab bloc in parliament and who asked not to be identified.

"It's a difficult decision and violence will increase because they will fight back, but we have to do it."

Sunni Arabs, dominant under Saddam Hussein, opposed taking part in elections and in Shi'ite-led governments after the invasion in 2003, opening the door to Sunni militants including al Qaeda to spread deep roots among their communities.

But in late 2005, the biggest Sunni party, the Islamic Party, formed with other Sunni groups in the Accordance Front to take part in elections and later lobbied for jobs in government.

Al Qaeda-linked militants said whoever took part in the political process was a "traitor" and should be killed.

Soon after a power struggle erupted between tribal leaders in the Anbar capital, Ramadi.

"Iraqis should choose who they support because these criminal groups have penetrated the Sunni Arab community," said a government Sunni Arab official, who added that the Shi'ite community was also suffering from "Shi'ite criminal groups".

Iraqi and U.S. officials have encouraged tribesmen to band together against al Qaeda in Anbar.

The U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, last week praised the desire of tribes to fight al Qaeda. He said violence by al Qaeda had "begun to turn Sunni citizens of Anbar province against them".

ROOM FOR DIALOGUE?

Anbar, which makes up a third of Iraq's territory, has been the deadliest region in Iraq for U.S. forces.

The fallout between the Sunni Arab tribes and militants has also spread to Baghdad.

Sunni Arab Deputy Prime Minister Salam al-Zobaie survived an assassination attempt late last month.

A few days later the son of an anti-al Qaeda tribal leader was killed in an attack near Baghdad. The son was a military leader of one of Iraq's biggest Sunni Arab insurgent groups which is believed to have given tacit backing to the tribes.

Sunni Arab officials said that such attacks would increase.

"They are just extremists. All they want is to sabotage the situation. They have no clear agenda -- just death, killing and misinterpretation of Islam," said another Sunni Arab official.

"They started as fighting the occupation and then they began targeting Shi'ites, and now they are killing fellow Sunnis just for being involved in the political process," he said.

Some Sunni Arab officials worry about more bloodshed.

They urged the government to hold direct talks with militant groups in order to split the "extremists" from those in the Sunni communities who might join the political process.

The government has said it was talking to militants who had expressed a readiness to disarm but it has ruled out negotiations with al Qaeda.

"The real resistance groups must come forward and present themselves and their demands to the government and the government must have serious talks with them," said Sunni parliament member Salim al-Jibouri.

"This will alienate the extremists who are using resistance as a cover for their acts."