Iraqi Sunni killed while helping Shiite stampede victims

U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad has praised the heroism of Othman al-Obeidi, a young Sunni man who lost his life while attempting to rescue Shiite pilgrims who fell into the Tigris River August 31 as the result of a panicked stampede over the Adhamyia bridge in Baghdad, Iraq.

Al-Obeidi managed to pull six people from the river before falling in and drowning while attempting to save a seventh person.

In a September 6 news release, Khalilzad said "It did not matter to him that they were Shiite, while he was Sunni," adding "his fellow Iraqi citizens were in a time of need and he did what I hope many other Iraqis have in their hearts to do -- he offered a hand."

The ambassador also praised the people of Fallujah, Iraq, for holding a blood drive to help the victims of the stampede.

"These demonstrations of cooperation and humanitarianism should be the path Iraqis take to live and work together for the betterment of their nation," he said.