Protest against alleged al-Qaida violence in Samara

More than 1,000 protesters hit the streets of Samara, some 125km north of the capital, Baghdad, this week to demonstrate against al-Qaida militants blamed for killing more than 100 local police recruits this month. The demonstration on 24 January, organised by the Iraqi Islamic Party and the Muslim Scholars’ Association, is the first of its kind to specifically condemn the al-Qaida group for alleged terrorist attacks. “They have to stop killing innocent people like recruits, journalists and children,” demanded protest organiser Kamal Ahmed. “If they don’t stop, we’ll fight them directly,” Ahmed added angrily. Even self-described insurgents, locked in bitter fighting with US and Iraqi military forces, joined in the condemnation. “We work against the US occupation without hurting innocents,” said Abu Omar of the insurgent Islamic Army. “If al-Qaida is against the ideology behind the insurgency, it’s time to force them out of our country.” “We will kill the militants to show how far we will go to save the lives of innocent people,” Abu Omar added. In early January, a Sunni tribal leader was assassinated – almost sparking revolt in Samara – after condemning al-Qaida for killing innocent civilians in its attacks. Following the release of parliamentary election results last week, the Iraqi government has expressed optimism that greater Sunni participation in a new government will result in a truce between Sunni militias and US and Iraqi forces. “Everyone started to see that we have to work together to bring progress to Iraq,” said Hussein Sardawi, a senior official in the Ministry of Interior. “Al-Qaida is the only group that wants to bring instability to our country.” Al-Qaida allegedly infiltrated into Iraq after the US-led invasion in 2003, facilitated by the country’s long and porous borders. The group’s presence became increasingly apparent during the first US-led offensive in Fallujah, launched in April 2004. Initially, al-Qaida membership in Iraq consisted mostly of foreigners, say experts. According to officials in the information ministry, though, hundreds of Iraqis have since joined it. The number of al-Qaida fighters operating in the country is loosely estimated at some thousands, although no official figures exist. Similar anti-al-Qaida demonstrations are planned in the cities of Ramadi and Baghdad in the coming days. “We’re happy with the decision to work against al-Qaida,” Sardawi said. “But we’re also worried that this might result in the deaths of more innocent people.”