Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter

NEWS ABOUT: Sunnis

Sunnis stories: 26 news summaries

1 - 20 of 26 Stories | 1 2 Next >>

Switch to grid view »

 Iraq Halts 
 Preparations 
 for Jan. Election 

Fate of vote, US withdrawal in question as VP vetoes law

Nov 18, 09 7:00 AM CST
(Newser) - In a move that could derail both Iraq's fragile democracy and US plans to withdraw troops by next summer, all preparations for elections in January have ground to a halt. The Iraqi election committee stopped "all our activities and work" today after the country's vice president vetoed part of... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Nouri al-Maliki • Iraq pullout • Sunnis • Tariq al Hashemi • iraq election

(Newser) - As the US military prepares to withdraw from Iraq's cities, security officials in both countries have observed that a smaller but more lethal insurgency seems to be gaining ground. Several recent bombings, believed to be orchestrated by al-Qaeda in Iraq, have killed 123 people in Baghdad and elsewhere, while members... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Shiite • US military • Sunnis • al-Qaeda in Mesopotamia • Awakening Councils • al-Qaeda in Iraq • Sunni Awakening • insurgency • Iraqi Army

(Newser) - The US turned over tens of thousands of Sunni fighters to Baghdad this weekend to take government jobs and mend fences with ruling Shiites, but many Sunnis are skeptical, the New York Times reports. After helping tame al-Qaeda in Iraq, the militiamen say few jobs are being offered in return.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Shiite • Sunnis • Awakening Councils • Iraqi government

US Gives Iraq Control
of Sunni Guards

Former insurgents will be given jobs in government

Mar 21, 09 5:23 PM CDT
(Newser) - Baghdad took control today of 90% of the former insurgents employed by the US military to combat al-Qaeda, Reuters reports. Turnover of the roughly 84,000 “Awakening Council" Sunnis, who were paid about $300 a month to patrol neighborhoods, will test Iraqi reconciliation as the US prepares to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • US military • Sunnis • Sunni insurgents • Awakening Councils

Sunni Iraqis: Shiites Barred Us From Voting

Thousands turned
away in former insurgent enclave

Jan 31, 09 4:21 PM CST
(Newser) - At least 1,000 Sunni Iraqis were turned away from the polls in Baghdad today for being unregistered to vote, and many accused the Shiite government of deleting their names from the polls, the Los Angeles Times reports. “This is a disappointment,” complained one man. Agitation was high... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Shiite • Sunnis • voting

Polls Open in Watershed
Iraqi Election

Thousands vie for seats in biggest vote since fall of Saddam

Jan 30, 09 8:23 AM CST
(Newser) - The polls are already open for this weekend's provincial elections in Iraq, the nation's first since it became a fully sovereign nation after the fall of Saddam. The Sunni minority is participating, reports the Christian Science Monitor, and Iraqis can vote for more than 14,000 candidates vying for 440... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Nouri al-Maliki • Kurds • Sunnis • Iraqi elections • provincial elections

Iraq Parliament Delays Vote on US Security Pact

Political bargaining forces postponement to tomorrow

Nov 26, 08 10:42 AM CST
(AP) - Intense dealmaking among Iraq's political factions has delayed until tomorrow a parliamentary vote on the security pact that would allow American forces to stay in the country through 2011. The Shiite-led government is struggling to meet the demands of political blocs, including a large group of Sunni Arab lawmakers, seeking... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Shiite • Iraqi Parliament • US military • Sunnis • vote • Iraq exit strategy • security pact

 United Arab Emirates Cancels Iraq's $7B Debt

Baghdad wins boost from key Arab states

Jul 7, 08 4:31 AM CDT
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Jordan • King Abdullah • Nouri al-Maliki • Shia • Sunnis • United Arab Emirates • UAE • Abdullah al-Shehi

OPINION

Refugees: Iraq's Unspoken Crisis

US must rebuild shattered lives now or face decades of disorder: Kristof

Jun 26, 08 6:56 AM CDT
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Jordan • Middle East • Syria • Sunnis • Iraqi refugees • Iraq war

Iran Is Biggest Threat
to Iraq: General

Points as proof to problem-free visit of Iranian prez

Mar 4, 08 10:58 PM CST
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Iran • Shiite • Baghdad • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad • Sunnis • US Army • Gen. Ray Odierno

Iranian Prez Arrives in Iraq

Ahmadinejad visit deepens ties with neighbor

Mar 2, 08 8:23 AM CST
(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... More »

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

Sunni Fighters Growing Tired
of US Neglect

Disputed killings, lack of support weakens plan to reduce violence

Feb 28, 08 12:06 PM CST
(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,... More »

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

Attacks on Shiite Pilgrims Jeopardize Sadr Ceasefire

Bombings continue with wheelchair attack

Feb 25, 08 10:58 AM CST
(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... More »

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

40 Iraq Shiite Pilgrims
Killed in Blast

Tent explodes as pilgrims take a
break during a days-long trek

Feb 24, 08 10:00 AM CST
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Sunni • Shiite • suicide bombing • Sunnis • bomb • pilgrims • Arbaeen • pilgrimage

Militias Shell Green Zone
in Baghdad

Assault on US-protected compound
could hurt al-Sadr's credibility

Feb 23, 08 1:57 PM CST
(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... More »

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

Iraq Lawmakers Overcome Rifts, Pass Key Laws

Long deadlock had threatened to dissolve young parliament

Feb 13, 08 6:38 PM CST
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Shiite • Nouri al-Maliki • Kurds • Sunnis • benchmarks • Iraq parliament

Iraqi Suicide Bomber Kills
at Least 33

Blast occurs as US defense secretary surveys troop surge

Feb 10, 08 6:56 PM CST
(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... More »

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

Diary of a Bitter al-Qaeda Leader

Insurgent slams Sunnis who've deserted group to join American forces

Feb 10, 08 12:49 PM CST
(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. “... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • insurgents • US military • Sunnis • Awakening Councils • al-Qaeda • Abu Tariq • emir

US Pushes for Sunni-Shiite Reconciliation

New strategy aims to integrate 'concerned' locals into government

Jan 14, 08 2:59 PM CST
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Shiite • Sunnis • Iraqi soldiers • Iraq government • Concerned Local Citizens • Iraq war

Iraq Ends Ban on Saddam-Era Baath Officials

Will allow thousands of civil servants to reapply for jobs, pensions

Jan 12, 08 9:50 AM CST
(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... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Iraq • Saddam Hussein • Shiite • Iraqi Parliament • Sunnis • Baath Party

1 - 20 of 26 Stories | 1 2 Next >>


from our news partners