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October 8, 2008 5:05:43 AM CDT

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Stories related to: Sunnis

Stories

19 Stories

  • July 2008

    • United Arab Emirates Cancels Iraq's $7B Debt

      BBC  |  Jul 7, 08 4:31 AM CDT

      United Arab Emirates Cancels Iraq's $7B Debt

      (Newser) - Iraq's diplomatic isolation among its Arab neighbors is easing , reports the BBC. The United Arab Emirates canceled Iraq's entire debt of close to $7 billion and appointed a new ambassador, while Jordan's King Abdullah will become  the first Arab head of state to visit Iraq since 2003, boosting the Baghdad government's standing in the region. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • Nouri al-Maliki  • King Abdullah  • Jordan  • Sunnis  • Shia  • United Arab Emirates

  • June 2008

    • Refugees: Iraq's Unspoken Crisis

      New York Times  |  Jun 26, 08 6:56 AM CDT

      Refugees: Iraq's Unspoken Crisis

      (Newser) - New York Times columnist Nicholas D. Kristof travels to Jordan to report on one of the unintended consequences of the Iraq war: a regional refugee crisis. About 2 million Iraqis, mostly Sunnis, have fled since the war, living mostly in Jordan and Syria in deplorable conditions. "They are the new Palestinians," writes Kristof, "the 21st-century Arab diaspora that threatens the region’s stability." More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • Iraq war  • Middle East  • Syria  • Jordan  • Sunnis  • Iraqi refugees

  • March 2008

    • Iran Is Biggest Threat to Iraq: General

      Reuters  |  Mar 4, 08 10:58 PM CST

      Iran Is Biggest Threat to Iraq: General

      (Newser) - Iran is likely the single greatest threat to Iraq's longterm stability, according to a top US commander. The US has "pretty clear" evidence that Iran is training and supplying Shiite militias, said Lt. General Raymond Odierno, who just completed 15 months as second-in-command in Iraq.  Odierno pointed to the relatively uneventful visit of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to Baghdad as evidence of Tehran's influence over terrorists in Iraq, reports Reuters. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • Iran  • Baghdad  • US Army  • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  • Shiite  • Sunnis  • Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno

    • Iranian Prez Arrives in Iraq

      Reuters  |  Mar 2, 08 8:23 AM CST

      Iranian Prez Arrives in Iraq

      (Newser) - In an historic visit, Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Iraq today predicting “a new chapter” for relations between the two countries, despite a tense history and a feud with Baghdad’s American allies. Ahmadinejad, who won’t be protected by US forces during his two-day trip, met with Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and will sit down with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • Iraq war  • Iran  • United States  • Nouri al-Maliki  • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad  • Shiite  • Saddam Hussein  • Sunnis  • Jalal Talabani  • Iran war

  • February 2008

    • Sunni Fighters Growing Tired of US Neglect

      Washington Post  |  Feb 28, 08 12:06 PM CST

      Sunni Fighters Growing Tired of US Neglect

      (Newser) - The mostly Sunni volunteer forces that have drastically improved Iraq’s security are losing patience with US handlers, the Washington Post reports. Desertions are under way in key provinces over lack of resources, political disagreements, and disputed accounts of US troops killing members of the so-called Sunni Awakening. “Now, there is no cooperation with Americans,” one commander said. “We have stopped fighting al-Qaeda.” More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • al-Qaeda  • Shiite  • Sunnis  • Awakening Councils  • Diyala  • Concerned Local Citizens

    • Attacks on Shiite Pilgrims Jeopardize Sadr Ceasefire

      Los Angeles Times  |  Feb 25, 08 10:58 AM CST

      Attacks on Shiite Pilgrims Jeopardize Sadr Ceasefire

      (Newser) - A wave of violence against Shiite pilgrims continued today, with at least seven dying in a pair of roadside bombings, and nerves fraying over an unpopular ceasefire. Shiites are observing one of their most sacred holidays despite a spate of attacks—today's plus at least three yesterday—that are straining supporters of Muqtada al Sadr’s Mahdi Army, the LA Times reports.   More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • Muqtada al-Sadr  • Shiite  • sectarian violence  • ceasefire  • Sunnis  • Arbaeen  • pilgrimage

    • 40 Iraq Shiite Pilgrims Killed in Blast

      BBC  |  Feb 24, 08 10:00 AM CST

      40 Iraq Shiite Pilgrims Killed in Blast

      (Newser) - At least 40 people were killed today when a suicide bomber detonated an explosive vest amid a crowd of Shiite pilgrims during a trek south of Baghdad. A tent where the marchers stopped for food exploded in Iskandariyah in the second attack on Arbaeen, a day when millions descend on Karbala to honor the grandson of the prophet Muhammad, who is buried there. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • Shiite  • suicide bombing  • Sunni  • bomb  • Sunnis  • pilgrims  • Arbaeen  • pilgrimage

    • Militias Shell Green Zone in Baghdad

      Associated Press  |  Feb 23, 08 1:57 PM CST

      Militias Shell Green Zone in Baghdad

      (Newser) - A volley of rockets or mortar rounds hit Iraq’s Green Zone today, causing no injuries except perhaps to the credibility of a Shiite militia cease-fire extended just one day ago. The AP reports that nearly 10 explosions were heard inside the zone, which houses the American embassy, Iraqi government headquarters, and thousands of US troops. It's the fourth such attack this week. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • US military  • Baghdad  • troop surge  • Muqtada al-Sadr  • Green Zone  • Sunnis  • Shiite militia  • Supreme Iraqi Islamic Council

    • Iraq Lawmakers Overcome Rifts, Pass Key Laws

      Christian Science Monitor  |  Feb 13, 08 6:38 PM CST

      Iraq Lawmakers Overcome Rifts, Pass Key Laws

      (Newser) - A day after the speaker of Iraq’s parliament threatened to disband the legislature, lawmakers passed three key but divisive laws after months of infighting, the Christian Science Monitor reports. The measures—passage of a federal budget, limited amnesty for prisoners, and curbs on the powers of local governments—allowed Kurds, Shiites, and Sunnis all to claim victory, the New York Times says. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • Nouri al-Maliki  • Shiite  • Kurds  • Sunnis  • benchmarks  • Iraq parliament

    • Iraqi Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 33

      BBC  |  Feb 10, 08 6:56 PM CST

      Iraqi Suicide Bomber Kills at Least 33

      (Newser) - A suicide bomber killed at least 33 people and injured 45 in Iraq today just hours before US Defense Secretary Robert Gates made a surprise visit to Baghdad, the BBC reports. The car blast, sparked by six barrels of explosives, toppled buildings, and officials say more bodies may be dug out of the rubble. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • al-Qaeda  • David Petraeus  • insurgents  • troop surge  • Robert Gates  • Ryan Crocker  • suicide bomber  • Sunnis

    • Diary of a Bitter al-Qaeda Leader

      Washington Post  |  Feb 10, 08 12:49 PM CST

      Diary of a Bitter al-Qaeda Leader

      (Newser) - Al-Qaeda’s once indomitable force in Iraq is suffering from diminished ranks and low resources: That’s the word not from US generals but from one of the insurgent group’s leaders. In a bitter 16-page diary, Abu Tariq blasts former members who deserted al-Qaeda to join American forces. “We were mistreated, cheated, and betrayed by some of our brothers,” the emir wrote. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • al-Qaeda  • US military  • insurgents  • Sunnis  • Awakening Councils

  • January 2008

    • US Pushes for Sunni-Shiite Reconciliation

      Los Angeles Times  |  Jan 14, 08 2:59 PM CST

      US Pushes for Sunni-Shiite Reconciliation

      (Newser) - Convincing Iraq’s Shiite-dominated government to embrace the former Sunni insurgents known as “Concerned Local Citizens” is the key priority for US leaders in Iraq, the LA Times reports. The US-funded CLCs have been vital to Iraq’s improving security, patrolling areas without a regular police presence. But Iraqi leaders are resisting, fearing the creation of a rival Sunni army. More »

      Tags

      Iraq  • Iraq war  • Shiite  • Iraq government  • Sunnis  • Iraqi soldiers  • Concerned Local Citizens

    • Iraq Ends Ban on Saddam-Era Baath Officials

      BBC  |  Jan 12, 08 9:50 AM CST

      Iraq Ends Ban on Saddam-Era Baath Officials

      (Newser) - The Iraqi parliament today cleared the way for former members of Saddam's Baath party to rejoin the government and military, the BBC reports. The move is seen as a way to smooth tensions between Shiites, who control the new government, and Sunnis, who ruled under Saddam and dominated the Baath party. Those with outstanding criminal charges will not be allowed to return. More »

      Tags

      Iraq &