Iraq army says nine bombs defused as Shiite rituals climax

IRAQ WARS

With violence down, Iraq prepares for parliamentary polls
Baghdad (AFP) Dec 28, 2009 - Violence in Iraq dropped in 2009 to the lowest level since the US invasion but dangers lie ahead as the country prepares for the second general election since Saddam Hussein's ouster and as American forces begin pulling out. The year also saw Iraq take early steps towards rebuilding its moribund economy and crumbling infrastructure as it courted foreign investment and auctioned off massive oil fields in a bid to ramp up crude output. The drop in violence, which remains high by international standards, came as Iraqi security forces took control of the country's cities and towns as part of an American military pullout from urban centres on June 30. Around 115,000 US soldiers are still stationed in Iraq, though that figure is set to drop to 50,000 by the end of August as part of a deal between Baghdad and Washington that calls for a full American withdrawal by the end of 2011. With parliamentary elections scheduled for March 7, however, concerns remain that instability could increase in 2010 as political parties wrangle over the formation of a new government just as American combat troops begin to draw down in earnest.

Attacks have, however, declined nationwide. According to a tally of official tolls compiled by AFP, 3,114 Iraqi civilians, soldiers and policemen were killed as a result of violence in the first 11 months of 2009. By comparison, 6,798 people died from attacks in 2008, 17,783 in 2007 and 34,452 in 2006. Despite the dramatic drop-off in violence -- November saw the fewest deaths as a result of violence since the 2003 invasion -- Al-Qaeda appeared to change its strategy to target government offices in the capital, resulting in massive bombings in August, October and December that killed in all nearly 400 people. The three sets of co-ordinated vehicle blasts sparked widespread anger, eventually spurring parliament to question Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has been credited with blunting the violent insurgency that threatened to engulf Iraq in 2006 and 2007. Maliki is bidding to retain his post following the March legislative polls, which had to be delayed because of protracted negotiations over a law governing the election, though he will have to do so without his former Shiite allies, the Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council, from whom he broke away.

Sunni Arabs will also look to increase their say via the polls after boycotting the last general election in 2005, after the overthrow of Saddam two years earlier marked the end of 80 years of Sunni political dominance in Iraq. Iraqi political leaders and senior American military officers have warned of an upswing in violence as insurgent groups attempt to influence the outcome of the election. The vote comes as Iraq struggles to rebuild and reopen its economy, which has been crippled by decades of violence and sanctions. Baghdad took its initial steps along that road in 2009, inviting companies to large investment conferences in London and Washington, though neither produced any deals. The country, which has the third-largest set of oil reserves in the world, also auctioned off 10 oil fields to foreign energy firms, thereby raising its potential output in seven years to 12 million barrels per day, opening up its oil sector to the outside world for the first time in more than 35 years. That level of production, a five-fold increase on current output, would bring in billions of dollars of extra revenue to Iraq's government, which is heavily dependent on crude sales for income, and would rival the world's biggest producers of oil.

by Staff Writers
Karbala, Iraq (AFP) Dec 27, 2009
Iraqi security forces said Sunday they defused nine bombs as millions completed the annual Ashura rituals in Shiite shrine cities, free of the massive attacks that have marred recent years.

But violence again hit the ceremonies elsewhere in Iraq, with five dead in the bombing of a procession near the northern oil city of Kirkuk among a total of 32 faithful killed since Tuesday.

The chief of military operations in Karbala, which is the focal point of the rituals, said two Al-Qaeda cells were arrested north of the central shrine city.

"They had a plan to target visitors and even put several IEDs (improvised explosive devices) on the main road," General Usman al-Ghanemi told a news conference as the 10 days of ceremonies concluded.

Around three million people thronged the streets of Karbala for the main rituals commemorating the slaying of the revered Imam Hussein by the armies of the Sunni caliph Yazid in 680.

"Over the past 10 days, we have received around six million visitors who have come from all over Iraq, some coming by foot," Karbala provincial deputy governor Nasaeef Jassim said, adding that at least half had stayed for Sunday's climax.

He said that among the pilgrims were some 105,000 worshippers from abroad, mostly from the Gulf but also from other countries with significant Shiite communities including Pakistan.

Sunday's bomb in northern Iraq ripped through an Ashura procession in the town of Tuz Khurmatu, killing five people and wounding 27, including five women and a policeman, police said.

The Tuz attack came a day after three Shiites were killed when bombs struck separate Ashura processions in Baghdad.

Since Tuesday, 33 people have been killed and more than 160 wounded in violence targeting Ashura, including attacks on worshippers in Karbala and Baghdad earlier in the week.

A peaceful Ashura was seen as crucial for the electoral prospects of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, who has built his reputation on bringing security to Iraq and is contesting March 7 elections on a new multi-confessional ticket.

In a statement released by his office Sunday evening, Maliki praised the "exceptional efforts" of Iraq's security forces, which he credited with having "averted several terrorist attacks" during the day's rituals.

Previous years' ceremonies were marred by attacks by Sunni Arab insurgents and disrupted by intra-Shiite fighting.

In March 2004, near-simultaneous bombings in Karbala and at a Shiite mosque in Baghdad killed more than 170 people.

This year's ceremonies began with thousands of devotees drenched in blood after ritually slicing their scalps and ended with a re-enactment of the battle for Karbala in which Imam Hussein was killed.

Tradition holds that the revered imam was decapitated and his body mutilated.

To show their guilt and remorse for not defending Hussein, Shiites cut their scalps and flay themselves with chains attached to sticks during processions.

Sad songs were played on loudspeakers throughout the city and mostly black flags were on display, along with pictures of Imam Hussein and Imam Abbas, both of whom are buried in the city.

Masses of black-clad pilgrims took part in a ritual five-kilometre (three-mile) run, known as the "Twairij", around midday (0900 GMT) to Imam Hussein's shrine while hitting their heads with their hands and screaming "Labeikeh Hussein" (We are your followers, Hussein).

They then set fire to tents set up in the city to re-enact the scene of the final battle between Hussein and Yazid's armies.

Shiites make up around 15 percent of Muslims worldwide. They represent the majority populations in Iraq, Iran and Bahrain and form significant communities in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

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IRAQ WARS

Attack hits Shiites amid Ashura commemorations
Karbala, Iraq (AFP) Dec 27, 2009
Violence struck Shiite worshippers in north Iraq Sunday, while hundreds of thousands of pilgrims marked the climax of Ashura commemorations in the holy shrine city of Karbala. The attack on worshippers near Kirkuk was the latest in a spate of violence targeting Shiites in recent days, prompting security forces to beef up their presence in Karbala in central Iraq, the main focus of the Ashura ... read more

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