Sunni Iraqi party suspends ties with U.S.

FALLUJAH, Iraq, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- The Sunni Islamic Party of Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashimi suspended ties with U.S. officials following a raid on party officials in Fallujah.

U.S. military officials claimed a raid in Fallujah in Iraq's western Anbar province targeted insurgent fighters, killing at least one.

The Iraqi Islamic Party, however, claimed the attack had a "hidden political motive" against senior party officials, adding one of its members had been killed "in his bed," al-Jazeera reported.

Fallujah witnessed some of the most violent military attacks against Sunni insurgents in 2004. The Anbar Awakening, a tribal political movement that began in 2005, however, restored calm to the restive province following aggression against al-Qaida fighters in the area.

Awakening Council members filled a political vacuum in Anbar province prior to the U.S. troop surge. Several of its members are looking to take an active government role as their influence increases.

Islamic Party officials, however, have been at loggerheads with Sunni tribal elders in the area as both sides move to shore up political strength ahead of the provincial elections early next year.