Posted on 01/17/2005 12:26:48 PM PST by E-squirrel
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen kidnapped a Catholic archbishop and targeted security forces in a series of brazen attacks Monday that killed more than 20 people. U.S. Marines suffered undisclosed casualties in a car bombing in Ramadi, where two Shiite Muslims were beheaded and their bodies left on a sidewalk.
The top U.S. general here predicted more violence on the Jan. 30 balloting but pledged to do "everything in our power" to ensure safety. U.S. and Iraqi authorities hope for a substantial turnout, especially from the long-suppressed Shiite Muslim majority.
In Mosul, Archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa, 66, of the Syrian Catholic Church, was seized while walking in front of his church, a priest said on condition of anonymity. No group claimed responsibility, but The Vatican (news - web sites) condemned the abduction as a "terrorist act.
Christians make up just 3 percent of Iraq (news - web sites)'s 26 million people. The major Christian groups include Chaldean-Assyrians and Armenians with small numbers of Roman Catholics.
The deadliest attacks occurred in the three insurgent flashpoint cities north and west of Baghdad in areas where Sunni Muslim insurgents are seeking to derail the balloting.
In Buhriz, 55 kilometers (35 miles) north of Baghdad, gunmen attacked an Iraqi National Guard checkpoint at the provincial broadcasting center, killing eight soldiers and wounding four. A suicide driver blasted a police station in Beiji, 250 kilometers (155 miles) north of the capital, killing seven policemen and wounding 25 people.
In Ramadi, 110 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, a U.S. spokesman said Marines suffered casualties in a clash which erupted after they were sent to check a report of a suspicious vehicle. When the Marines arrived, they came under small arms and rocket-propelled grenade fire and the vehicle exploded, according to Marine spokesman 1st Lt. Lyle Gilbert.
"There were U.S. casualties," he said but declined to give further details, citing security.
Also in Ramadi, officials Monday found six bodies — five civilians and one Iraqi soldier — each bearing handwritten notes declaring them collaborators, officials said. Four had been shot but two were beheaded, their blood-soaked bodies left where they died.
A note left beside the bodies said they were Shiite who confessed to spying for the Americans. They were seized after leaving an American garrison in the middle of the city, the note said.
Shiites have been targets of intimidation because they are expected to turn out in large numbers for the election, in which Iraqis will choose a 275-member National Assembly that will appoint a new government and draft a permanent constitution.
Shiites form about 60 percent of Iraq's 26 million population, and their candidates are expected to win most of the assembly seats. Many Sunni Arabs fear the loss of power they enjoyed under Saddam Hussein (news - web sites). Sunni clerics have called for a boycott, and U.S. officials fear a low Sunni turnout may cast doubt on the legitimacy of the new government.
On Monday, police discovered a car loaded with explosives in the Shiite holy city of Karbala. On Sunday, a total of 17 people were killed in attacks along the main highway from Baghdad to Kut, 160 kilometers (100 miles) to the southeast.
Many Shiites have been using the Kut highway for travel to the south to avoid a more direct route which passes through the "triangle of death," where Sunni extremists have been targeting Shiites, foreigners, government officials and security personnel.
In Kut, gunmen broke into an administration building at Wasit University early Monday, wounded two guards and ransacked some offices, police said. University authorities postponed exams until after the election. Kut is in a largely Shiite province which U.S. officials said was safe for elections.
In a statement Monday, Gen. George W. Casey Jr., commander of the multinational forces, said about 300,000 U.S., Iraqi and other international forces will be available to protect voters.
"Is there going to be violence on election day? There is, but it's important that we understand what's happening here," Casey said. "It's not just about violence. It's about former regime loyalists and foreign terrorists murdering innocent Iraqis and Iraqi security forces to stop them from exercising their right to vote."
Nevertheless, violence has already impacted on the exercise in democracy. Some political alliances have declined to release all the names of their candidates for fear of attack, and little public campaigning has been possible except in Kurdish areas of the north.
Shiite politician Salama Khafaji, who survived an ambush Sunday in central Baghdad by gunmen wearing police uniforms, said she canceled campaigning in the south after her staff discovered terrorist checkpoints on major routes.
"We sent people out today to check roads in the area but they have reported back that terrorists have set up some road checkpoints," she said. "Generally I cannot go out and meet people or knock on door to get out the vote like they do in the West."
Despite the security crisis at home, Iraqis living abroad began registering to vote Monday, with dozens arriving at polling stations in 14 countries from Australia to Britain to the United States. Many expressed confusion at the process.
Officials estimate 1.2 million Iraqis are eligible to vote overseas. In Britain, many of the estimated 150,000 Iraqis eligible to vote were confused about the fledgling political process and unsure who to vote for.
"We lived in a dictatorship a long time, and it's the first time in my life, in my 48 years, that I can vote in Iraq," said Saieb Jabbar, who arrived at a London registration center with his 23-year-old son, Ahmed. "I feel very happy."
Thousands of Iraqi expatriates headed to the Detroit suburb of Southgate and four other U.S. cities Monday to register. Some traveled hundreds of kilometers (miles) to participate.
Bushra Albrhi, who registered with her husband, said she appreciates the part America played in getting rid of Saddam and giving Iraqis the chance to vote.
"It's the first time for the Iraqis. We'll be very happy if we get a president from the people," she said.
"BTW - I maintain a Catholic Ping List. Please freepmail me if you would like to be added to the list."
Certainly, I would be curious as to what is going on in the large Christian community. Of course, I won't have much to add to your list in that I am a true Southern Baptist (not like Bill Clinton or Newt Gingrich).
"there will be "HELL TO PAY"!!!!!!"
I think they better worry more about offending God the Almightly by harming one of his sheep.
Terrorist. First time I ever heard them use that word. Welcome to reality fellas.
Don't worry about it. Most of us wouldn't be able to read these articles if they weren't reposted.
By the time I get here at night most of the first postings have disappeared.
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