Iraqis demand evacuation of US forces after Mosque headquarters break in
Iraq-USA, Politics, 1/11/2006

Iraqi voices demanding the evacuation of the American forces from Iraq were louder with the preacher of Um al-Qura mosque and member of the Muslim Scholars Commission, Harith al-Obeidi, urging in a Eid al-Adha sermon on Monday the withdrawal of the American forces from Iraq and considered that the "occupation forces are behind every crime and the death of each and every innocent in Iraq."

Hundreds of the Arab Sunnis demonstrated near Um al-Qura Mosque west of Baghdad after Eid al-Afha holiday prayers in protest of the American forces breaking into the mosque two days ago under the pretext of searching for those who kidnapped an American female journalist.

The American army justified the breaking into the mosque, of landing helicopters, by sying it received direct information from an Iraqi civilian on activities inside it linked to the kidnapping of the American journalist Jill Carol.

Gen. Barry Johnson said that the operation ended by the arresting of 6 persons inside the mosques for interrogation, but knowing not if the persons are the ones which the Muslim Scholars Commission, whose headquarters is inside the mosque, announced their arrest and said they were one of its members and five are members of the mosque guards.

Jill Carlo, 28 years old, who works for the Christian Science Monitor was kidnapped on Saturday west Baghdad while she was preparing to meet one of the Sunni figures before her translator was found killed later.

Senior United Nations envoy in Iraq , Ashraf Qazi, Monday said that all parties must honor the sanctity of holy sites and voiced regret at the event, calling responsible authorities to ensure that the issue is investigated as quickly and transparently as possible.

This incident, following others in recent weeks involving places of worship, should serve as a reminder of the need to eschew violence and build mutual trust and confidence, Qazi said, calling on all concerned to support a fully inclusive political process that would increase stability and a peaceful future for the people of Iraq.

Previous Stories:
  American raid against a mosque angers Sunnis in Iraq   (1/10/2006)
  American raid against a mosque angers Sunnis in Iraq   (1/10/2006)
  On the Iraqi elections results   (1/10/2006)
  On the Australian forces in Iraq   (1/10/2006)
  Bremer request for half million US soldier in Iraq was ignored   (1/10/2006)
  The Guardian: Iraq war cost US be $2 trillion   (1/7/2006)

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