Iraq attacks spark Allawi warning: Security Impossible for Fake Elections
Saturday, January 22, 2005 at 09:49PM
TheSpook
Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iraq Iyad Allawi has said it will be
impossible to provide full security for this month's parliamentary
elections. Mr Allawi said the measures being put in place were
not enough to prevent all attacks by insurgents. He was speaking after
two more suicide bombings apparently targeting Shias killed at least 25
people on Friday. In the deadliest, at least 14 died when a car bomb
exploded as worshippers left a mosque in the capital, Baghdad. The
bomber struck the al-Taf mosque as people were celebrating the festival
of Eid al-Adha - one of Islam's most important holidays. Some 40
injured - including children - were rushed to a nearby hospital. Hours
later, a vehicle reported to have been an ambulance exploded south of
the capital, killing at least 11 people at a Shia wedding party. The
bride and groom were among many more reported injured in the blast.
Shia political leaders think militants are trying to stir up sectarian
strife. The blasts came after a notorious militant leader reportedly
warned of a long fight against US forces in Iraq. The latest attacks
come amid an increase in unrest in the run-up to Iraq's elections.
Commenting on the violence during a phone-in TV show, Mr Allawi said:
"The plan is not enough to confront the savage attacks." He said the
attackers would "try to make the political process fail" but expressed
confidence that security services would "meet the challenges". The
BBC's Caroline Hawley in Baghdad says every aspect of Iraq's first
direct national vote for decades is being overshadowed by violence.
There has been very little door-to-door campaigning because several
candidates have been killed and many more threatened, she says, so this
is an almost faceless campaign. [more]
Article originally appeared on (http://brownwatch.com/).
See website for complete article licensing information.