Continue effort to unite rival Iraqis
Published: July 23, 2007 at 1:19 PM
BAGHDAD, July 23 (UPI) -- U.S. forces said they believe they are making progress in persuading Sunni and Shiite tribal leaders to join forces against al-Qaida.
The latest deal between rival Sunni and Shiite tribes was brokered by members of the First Calvary Division based at Camp Taji some 20 miles west of Baghdad, The Washington Times reported Monday.
The leaders agreed to use members of more than 25 local tribes to protect the area around Taji from both Sunni and Shiite extremists in a policy that has transformed security in western Anbar province, the newspaper said.
One day later, the extremists used a suicide car bomb to punish one of the Sunni tribes involved in the accord. Three militiamen were killed and 14 others were wounded in the attack.
A Shiite tribal leader involved in the accord reportedly received a phone call saying one of his relatives had been assassinated in what was described as a warning from the Mahdi Army of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the Times said.
The latest deal between rival Sunni and Shiite tribes was brokered by members of the First Calvary Division based at Camp Taji some 20 miles west of Baghdad, The Washington Times reported Monday.
The leaders agreed to use members of more than 25 local tribes to protect the area around Taji from both Sunni and Shiite extremists in a policy that has transformed security in western Anbar province, the newspaper said.
One day later, the extremists used a suicide car bomb to punish one of the Sunni tribes involved in the accord. Three militiamen were killed and 14 others were wounded in the attack.
A Shiite tribal leader involved in the accord reportedly received a phone call saying one of his relatives had been assassinated in what was described as a warning from the Mahdi Army of radical cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, the Times said.
© 2007 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
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This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
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