IRAQ: Sunni Cleric Killed As He Leaves Mosque

The Las Vegas Sun ^ | February 21, 2004 at 17:45:34 PST | ASSOCIATED PRESS

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A Sunni Muslim cleric was shot dead Saturday after he left a mosque in the Iraqi capital, a spokesman for a religious group said.

Sheik Dhamer al-Dhari was walking down a street near his mosque when gunmen opened fire from a car, killing him, according to Sheik Mohammed al-Faidhy, spokesman of the Association of Muslim Scholars.

Al-Dhari was not a prominent member of the association, but his half-brother, Hareth al-Dhari, serves as the organization's secretary-general.

Last week, the Association of Muslim Scholars issued a statement saying that "no one in his right mind" would reject elections in principle "but at the same time we don't want to have nominal or hasty elections and pay a hefty price for that."

Many Sunnis have opposed calls by the rival Shiite Muslim clergy for early legislative elections in Iraq.

Al-Faidhy, the association spokesman, said he expected more such attacks in the run-up to the scheduled June 30 transfer of sovereignty from the U.S.-run coalition to an Iraqi leadership as different groups compete for power.

"We expect ... that Iraq would witness many such operations to create chaos and kindle strife," he said.

--

[Calpernia]

ping

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Doesn't sound like this cleric was a major figure.

Any idea which group might have done this?

[McGavin999]

The terrorists. They want to start a war between the three factions. They've gone after the Shiite clerics, they've gone after the Kurds, and now they are going after the Sunnis.

Thankfully, most Iraqis have figured out what they are trying to do and won't give in.