Occupation, sectarianism destabilize Iraq's security; 42 killed
Iraq, Politics, 6/24/2005

Some 42 Iraqis were killed and other scores were injured in a series of attacks, including four new explosions in booby trapped cars, the most violent in Baghdad since the launching of "al- Barq" ( lightening) military operation launched by the American and Iraqi forces in the capital since the end of May.

In the same context, one Iraqi security official blames the "occupation" forces for being the reason behind the weakness of the security situation, because of the overuse of force in dealing with a political crisis or acts of violence and political crimes, giving not the Iraqi security sides chance to play full role in this regard.

The Iraqi security officials told the Lebanese daily Assafir in its issue published today that the security situation in Iraq continues to suffer several elements of weakness. He considered that the ethnic and sectarian divisions on the ground of which the governing council was built and on which public administrations were established later, had weakened the ability of the security establishments to meet challenges.

The source explained that the Iraqi ministry of the interior has now six secretaries for the minister of the interior, with each of them represents one party, so that as a consequence, undermined their commitment to serve the state, rather to their party interests. He said "each and every secretary seeks to implement instructions, met or contracted with the interests of his party." The source disclosed differences between the two Iraqis ministries of defense and the interior on the capabilities of the two ministries in the number of persons recruited in the emergency and national guard groups. He added "the same thing might be repeated in other ministries. There is a conflict now between civilians and military men in the ministry of defense. These have reasons including the increasing influence of civilians in Iraq, because those civilians are also members in parties."

He explained that "the problem, the security departments suffer from, is that it depends on the party militias capabilities, which are either outdated, or new volunteers who are in need of a long time and effort to be rehabilitated. This, however, weakened the departments' ability to perform its missions at a time when challenges are unprecedently increased on many levels."

At least 17 Iraqis were killed and other 69 were injured on Thursday in four booby trapped cars explosions in Baghdad. The four cars went off within half an hour in al-Karradah area which is a mixture of the Sunni, Shiite and Christians in the center of Baghdad. The first car was parked near the Shiite Abu Juma Huseneih, the second went off near "al-Haji Mahdi bath," the third was driven by a suicide bomber detonated near a police vehicle near a fuel filling station. The four car blew off near the Shiite al-Mubarak Huseineih in the same area but no casualties were reported.

Several citizens from al-Karradah angrily gathered at the site of one exploded car and described the government as a "traitor," because it did not abide by its promises it gave before the legislative elections. One of them cried "where is the government. let's them come here and see. Is this what they had promised us.. where is security. All of them are traitors.. no body cares about us."

Meantime, the Iraqi police on Thursday found four unidentified bodies in the south of Baghdad, while 20 suspects were arrested in the so-called "the triangle of death" to the south of the capital.

The American army announced that its forces destroyed one house used by supporters of al-Zarqawi. Al-Jam'eiyah quarters citizens in the west of Baghdad heard noises of fighting between persons who were in the house and the Iraqi and the American forces during the night and saw the house while burning.

Meantime, 50 Sunni men of religion, tribal leaders and politicians, ratified during a meeting held on Thursday in the old building of the parliament on the 15 names of the Arab Sunni who will join the constitution formulation committee.

Previous Stories:
  Rice calls Iraqi constitution chance for national reconciliation   (6/23/2005)
  All Iraqis should be mobilized to overcome security problems, Benaissa   (6/23/2005)
  Four Arab states appoint ambassadors to Baghdad   (6/23/2005)
  Booby trapped car explosions kill 22 in Baghdad   (6/23/2005)
  Continued killings in Iraq   (6/23/2005)
  American soldier, scores of Iraqis killed   (6/21/2005)

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