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Iraqis arrest 32 in death squads causing mayhem

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Friday, September 22, 2006

BAGHDAD — Officials here said Iraqi forces have captured 32 members of a Shi'ite death squad as well as its leader. They said a spate of death squads — many of them believed connected to the Iranian-sponsored Mahdi Army — have been operating in the Baghdad area, which resulted in record civilian casualties in July and August 2006.

"We're moving step by step, section by section, and it will take some time," U.S. Central Command chief Gen. John Abizaid said. "We will begin to really see whether or not we're being successful in a month or two."

Iraq's security forces have accelerated preparations for the Islamic fast month of Ramadan, Middle East Newsline reported.

Officials said the Iraq Army and national police units have conducted more than 600 security operations in the past two weeks to disrupt insurgency plans for Ramadan. They said Al Qaida and aligned insurgency groups have sought to increase attacks on civilians during Ramadan, which begins over the weekend.

"Historically, Ramadan has been a period of increased violence," U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said. "Iraqi security forces, with coalition forces in support, have plans to address this concern."

[On Thursday, Iraq assumed security responsibility for the southern province of Dhi Qar. This was the second of 18 provinces taken over by the Baghdad government.]

Caldwell told a Sept. 20 briefing that Iraqi and coalition forces have conducted 10 operations to foil Iraqi and foreign insurgents as well as reduce sectarian violence. He said Al Qaida-aligned strikes have increased in the provinces of Anbar, Baghdad, Diyala and Saleh Eddin.

"Iraqi security forces and coalition forces will remain vigilant and adjust our tactics as necessary," Caldwell said.

Officials said Iraq and the United States have assessed that insurgents would increase their use of suicide car bombs during Ramadan. On Thursday, the Iraqi Defense Ministry said insurgents have been abducting drivers, stuffing their vehicles with explosives and detonating them near Iraqi and U.S. military targets.

"A motorist is kidnapped with his car," the ministry said. "They then boobytrap the car without the driver knowing. Then, the kidnapped driver is released and threatened to drive along a certain road."

The statement said the abductors track the car and when it reaches a checkpoint or army patrol "the criminal terrorists who follow the driver detonate the car from a distance."


Copyright © 2006 East West Services, Inc.

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