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Iraq: Suicide Bomber Death Toll up to 30 - as Ex-Al Quaida Prisoner Returns from US Camp Bucca

by Christina 123 | August 24, 2008 at 01:55 pm

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The unwanted guest at the Party:

[q url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/iraq/2008136152_iraq25.html]BAGHDAD — Sheik Ayyid Salim al-Zubaie held a large party at his house in Abu Ghraib on Sunday to celebrate the release of a family member who had been imprisoned by U.S. forces in Camp Bucca for three years.[/q]

It has been revealed that Sheik al Zubaie is among the dead.

Zubai was among the dead, an interior ministry official said on Sunday.

Residents said the village used to be an Al-Qaeda stronghold until the US military began sponsoring the formation of so-called Awakening groups among Sunni tribesmen and former rebels opposed to the jihadists.

The groups have become a frequent target for Al-Qaeda reprisals. [q/]

In addition, it has been revealed that a leading Al-Quaeda (Al Quaida) suspect has been arrested today in connection with the kidnap of US journalist, Jill Carroll in 2006.

[q url="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/iraq/2008136152_iraq25.html"]Also Sunday, the military announced the arrest of a key al-Qaida in Iraq figure believed to have planned the abduction of U.S. journalist Jill Carroll in 2006. A military statement said Salim Abdullah Ashur al-Shujayri, also known as Abu Othman, is a Baghdad leader of al-Qaida in Iraq who oversaw some of the group's most heinous activities.

Latest reports say that at least twenty-one people including women and children are known to have been killed by a suicide bomber in Abu Ghraib in Baghdad, with at least thirty-two injured, at the home of a tribal sheikh where a party was under way, attended by police and Sunni sect members, to celebrate the release of the tribal sheikh's son. The son had just released after been detained at the controversial US Military prison in Abu Ghraib.

The banquet appears to have been held by an "Awakening Council", a Sunni organisation for insurgents who used to work alongside Al-Quaeda, but now fight against them. Despite increased security to protect the Sunni regions, insurgents have been increasingly active in the area.

US helicopters in the area helped airlift the injured to hospital in Falujah.

[q url="http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2008/08/sons-of-iraq-on.html"]

Early reports had stated that it was a "wedding banquet".

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At least twenty-one people have been killed in Iraq, police say, after a suicide bomber attacked a wedding party in the western part of the Baghdad capital in Abu Ghraib. The attendees at the wedding are believed to be part of a Sunni group that opposes Al-Quaeda.

A suicide bomber has attacked a celebratory feast in Baghdad's western Abu Ghraib district, killing at least 21 people, according to police.
Another 29 people are reported to have been injured when the attacker detonated an explosive vest.
Initial reports say the banquet was being attended by police and members of the Sunni "Awakening" group, which opposes al-Qaeda.
The guests were celebrating the release of a local man from US detention.
The attack took place at around 2030 local time (1730 GMT), according to an Interior Ministry official.

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Sanjay Jha

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 18:56 on August 24th, 2008

Christina 123, I like this story. It's good stuff. Pls keep us posted

Christina 123

at 19:36 on August 24th, 2008

Thanks, Sanjay! I think so, too. BBC 24 have it as their main news (pushed the Olympics Closing Ceremony off)

Paschen

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:13 on August 24th, 2008

Christina 123, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Christina 123

at 19:37 on August 24th, 2008

Thanks, Paschen!

Barry Artiste

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 20:19 on August 24th, 2008

Christina 123, I like this story. It's good stuff.

Christina 123

at 12:45 on August 25th, 2008

Thanks, Barry Artiste!

Sputnic

at 06:41 on August 25th, 2008

Good stuff definitely but have to nit pick a bit. 80 per cent of the worlds muslims are sunni . The minority can be described as a sect not majority.

Christina 123

at 12:43 on August 25th, 2008

Soz, Sputnic - was referring to the specific Sunni Awakening Group in Western Baghdad part rather than Sunnis in general - it is a sect in the sense it is a special group.