Suicide Bombers Attack Iraqi Police Killing 30
BAGHDAD (AP) – Two suicide bombers blew themselves up Monday in a crowd of police officers south of Baghdad, killing up to 30 people and wounding dozens, while U.S. forces briefly detained a Sunni political leader on the second day of an Iraqi-led security sweep in the capital. Mohsen Abdul-Ha
Local residents look at a vehicle destroyed in a suicide attack against police (REUTERS)
BAGHDAD (AP) – Two suicide bombers blew themselves up Monday in a crowd of police officers south of Baghdad, killing up to 30 people and wounding dozens, while U.S. forces briefly detained a Sunni political leader on the second day of an Iraqi-led security sweep in the capital.
Mohsen Abdul-Hamid, head of Iraq”s largest Sunni Arab political party and short-time president of the now-dissolved U.S.-backed Iraqi Governing Council, was taken from his home in western Baghdad at about 6 a.m. local time by military forces, party officials said.
The U.S. military later confirmed it had mistakenly arrested Abdul-Hamid, questioned him and released him shortly after.
"Following the interview it was determined that he was detained by mistake and should be released," the military said in a statement. "Coalition forces regret any inconvenience and acknowledge (Abdul-Hamid”s) co-operation in resolving this matter."
The arrest came a day after Iraqi forces launched Operation Lightning, an anti-insurgent offensive in Baghdad that Abdul-Hamid”s party opposes, believing security forces will trample on innocent people”s rights.
The two bombers struck shortly after 9 a.m. in Hillah, 97 kilometres south of the capital, wading into a crowd of about 500 policemen who were demonstrating outside the mayor”s office to protest a government decision to disband their special forces unit, police Capt. Muthana Khalid Ali said.
The bombers staggered the detonations to maximize casualties, said Col. Adnan Abdul Rahman, who was contacted by telephone in Baghdad. Policeman Jiwad Kadhim Hamid said the explosions took place about 100 metres from each other and about a minute apart.
"I just saw a ball of fire and flying pieces of flesh. After that, confused policemen started firing into the air," he said.
The Polish military, which controls the area, said at least 30 Iraqis were killed, while doctors in Hillah said the dead numbered from 20 to 25 people. It”s difficult to get an accurate count immediately after a suicide attack because many of the victims are often dismembered. Officials said about 100 others were wounded.
The militant organization "al-Qaida in Iraq" said in an Internet statement that one of its members carried out an attack "against a group of special Iraqi forces, allied with the Jews and the crusaders, as they were protesting outside a police station." The statement”s authenticity could not be verified.
Abdul-Hamid was taken by U.S. troops from his home in the western Baghdad suburb of Khadra along with his three sons and four guards, Islamic Party Secretary General Ayad al-Samarei said, accusing American soldiers of raiding Abdul-Hamid”s home and confiscating items, including a computer.
"This is a provocative and foolish act and this is part of the pressure exerted on the party," al-Samarei said.
"At the time when the Americans say they are keen on real Sunni participation, they are now arresting the head of the only Sunni party that calls for a peaceful solution and have participated in the political process," he added.
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, who is Kurdish, expressed "surprise and discontent" about the arrest, saying the presidential council was not informed that it would occur. "This way of dealing with such a distinguished political figure is unacceptable," the president said in a statement.
Abdul-Hamid”s Iraqi Islamic Party had in recent weeks taken steps to become more involved in the political process after boycotting the country”s Jan. 30 parliamentary elections, which were dominated by parties drawn from Iraq”s majority Shiite population.
Sunni Arabs, who comprise 15 to 20 per cent of Iraq”s 26 million people, enjoyed dominance under Saddam Hussein but have lost their influence since the dictator”s ouster two years ago and the country”s predominant Shiite community gained political power.
On Sunday, Iraqi police fought pitched battles with insurgents as thousands of security forces backed by American troops began sweeping through Baghdad”s streets in the search for militants responsible for killing more than 740 people since Iraq”s new government was announced in late April.
In their biggest coup of the operation, Iraqi and U.S. soldiers arrested a former general in Saddam”s intelligence service during a raid in western Baghdad, the scene of some of Sunday”s heaviest fighting.
Insurgents struck back, killing at least 30 people, including a British soldier, in attacks in Baghdad and other parts of Iraq. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi”s "al-Qaida in Iraq" claimed responsibility for nearly all the attacks.
Gunmen also killed a senior Kurdish official, Maj.-Gen. Ahmed al-Barazanchi, director of internal affairs of Kirkuk province and a former police chief. He died in hospital early Monday after being shot late Sunday, said Ismail al-Hadithi, Kirkuk”s deputy governor.
An injured policeman is tended to by a relative in hospital
A local resident shouts out in disbelief next to a vehicle destroyed by the blast (REUTERS)