IRAQ: String of Iraq bomb attacks target poll candidates

Record ID: 356775

  • Title: IRAQ: String of Iraq bomb attacks target poll candidates
  • Date: 15th February 2010
  • Summary: ADHAMIYA NEIGHBORHOOD, BAGHDAD, IRAQ (FEBRUARY 14, 2010) (REUTERS) IRAQI ARMY VEHICLE BLOCKING STREET LEADING TO HEADQUARTERS OF POLITICAL PARTY HEADED BY PROMINENT SUNNI MUSLIM POLITICIAN SALEH AL-MUTLAQ IRAQI SOLDIERS TALKING TO MEMBER OF THE PARTY/ TILT UP TO THE EXTERIOR OF PARTY BUILDING MEMBERS OF PARTY EXAMINING DAMAGE TO BUILDING/ FLOOR LITTERED BY DEBRIS BROKEN
  • Embargoed: 2nd March 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6CX2SUK1T3L8WW2IJV510840U
  • Story Text: A string of bombings targeted groups taking part in Iraq's March election late on Saturday (February 13), wounding three people, an Interior Ministry official said.
    The attacks stoke fears that violence may mar what is expected to be fiercely contested March 7 parliamentary vote.
    One bomb wounded two people when it exploded in front of the north Baghdad headquarters of a political group headed by prominent Sunni Muslim politician Saleh al-Mutlaq, co-founder of the Iraqiya election list.
    "The bomb caused material damage only and no casualties, only the building was damaged. It seems that those who carried out the attack do not believe in the democratic process and the peaceful transition of power and regrettably, this is their way to deal with democratic issues," said Adel Naji, head of the party's office in Adhamiya Moreover, one person was hurt when a bomb struck a building used by an election list led by Nehru Abdulkarim al-Keznazani, while another blast damaged the headquarters of the United Iraq list in east Baghdad.
    In a new statement, Omar al-Baghdadi, purported leader of al Qaeda in Iraq, threatened to prevent the elections because it would result in Iraq's Shi'ite majority, whom al Qaeda considers heretics, ruling over Sunnis.
    "Sunni participation in this election will certainly lead to the establishment of the principle that Sunnis in Iraq are a minority who have to be ruled by the rejectionists," an audio recording attributed to him posted on a website on Friday said.
    "We have decided to prevent these elections by all legitimate means possible, primarily military means," the recording continued.
    One member of the Iraqiya candidate list was murdered a few days ago in the violent city Mosul.
    Over-all violence has fallen sharply in Iraq in the last two years, but huge bombings have rocked the country in recent months. Al Qaeda and members of Saddam Hussein's outlawed Sunni-dominated Baath party have been blamed.
    Iraqi and U.S. officials hope the election will solidify the country's young democracy ahead of a U.S. military withdrawal due by the end of 2011, by drawing former insurgents and militias into the political process.
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