BAGHDAD — Al Qaida announced plans to force the closure of universities in the
Iraqi capital.
A video by an Al Qaida-aligned group said all institutions of higher
education would be closed for the current academic year. Jaysh Ansar Al
Sunni, or the Army of the Supporters of Al Sunna, said colleges in Baghdad
would be shut for the 2006-2007 school year.
In the video announcement, Ansar Al Sunna said the decision to close
Baghdad colleges was taken in an effort to protect Sunni students. The group
said Sunni students and professors have been marked by Shi'ite death squads, Middle East Newsline reported.
The 16-minute video, released on Dec. 4, shows a masked announcer saying
that teachers and students have three days to collect their belongings from
the
colleges. Ansar said after that anybody found in the Baghdad schools would
be
regarded as a collaborator of the Shi'ite-led government and death squads.
Ansar said Shi'ite death squads have targeted Sunnis in institutions
throughout Baghdad. The video said 250 professors have been killed by
Shi'ite squads.
Iraqi security sources have confirmed that Shi'ite death squads combed
government offices and hospitals in search of Sunnis. They said civil
servants and others have been offered money by both Shi'ite and Sunni squads
to identify members of rival ethnic groups.
