Home » Archives » "Sunni Clerics Say Iraqi Elections Lack Legitimacy"

Sunni Clerics Say Iraqi Elections Lack Legitimacy

Feb- 2-2005 » Filed Under: TF Freedom

Link to Full Article
By Sameer N. Yacoub, Associated Press

[...] Emboldened by the elections, which U.S. and Iraqi authorities cited as a victory for democracy, the police chief in Mosul demanded the insurgents hand over weapons within two weeks or he would "wipe out" anyone giving them shelter.

[...] In Mosul, police Gen. Mohammed Ahmed al-Jubouri offered amnesty to insurgents who handed over their weapons within two weeks but promised tough action if they did not. In an interview with the provincial television station, al-Jubouri threatened "to wipe out any village that would hide weapons after the two-week period and shell any safe haven for the insurgents."

With the threat of election violence past, the U.S. Army handed over control Wednesday of several combat outposts to Iraqi security forces on the west side of Mosul.

Mosul, Iraq's third largest city, has been tense since insurgents rose up in November in support of rebels under siege in Fallujah west of Baghdad. The entire 5,000 member police force deserted before U.S. and Iraqi troops regained control.


Advertisements