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Ten Sheiks Allied Against Al Qaeda Kidnapped in Iraq
Sunday, October 28, 2007
BAGHDAD - Ten Sunni and Shiite tribal leaders who had joined forces against
Al-Qaeda in Iraq were abducted by gunmen as they were traveling home to
Diyala province after a meeting with a government official in Baghdad,
police and a relative said.
The gunmen ambushed the two cars carrying the 10 men in Baghdad's
predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Shaab at about 3:30 p.m., police
officials said.
The sheiks -- seven Sunnis and three Shiites -- were on their way back to
Diyala province after attending a conference with the Shiite-dominated
government's adviser for tribal affairs to discuss coordinating efforts
against Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
They were representing a so-called Awakening Council, as the anti-Al-Qaeda
groups often are known, in the Salam area, due east of Baqouba, a former
Al-Qaeda stronghold.
U.S. military commanders have attributed a drop in violence in the city, 60
kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, to the increased public
opposition to Al-Qaeda, as well as an influx of thousands of extra U.S.
troops as part of a security crackdown.
Ten Sheiks Allied Against Al Qaeda Kidnapped in Iraq
Sunday, October 28, 2007
BAGHDAD - Ten Sunni and Shiite tribal leaders who had joined forces against
Al-Qaeda in Iraq were abducted by gunmen as they were traveling home to
Diyala province after a meeting with a government official in Baghdad,
police and a relative said.
The gunmen ambushed the two cars carrying the 10 men in Baghdad's
predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Shaab at about 3:30 p.m., police
officials said.
The sheiks -- seven Sunnis and three Shiites -- were on their way back to
Diyala province after attending a conference with the Shiite-dominated
government's adviser for tribal affairs to discuss coordinating efforts
against Al-Qaeda in Iraq.
They were representing a so-called Awakening Council, as the anti-Al-Qaeda
groups often are known, in the Salam area, due east of Baqouba, a former
Al-Qaeda stronghold.
U.S. military commanders have attributed a drop in violence in the city, 60
kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, to the increased public
opposition to Al-Qaeda, as well as an influx of thousands of extra U.S.
troops as part of a security crackdown.
