Political turmoil hits Iraq town after protests (Samawa)

[leftchick]

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/GEO047864.htm

<snip>

Samawa, populated mainly by Shi'ite Muslims, has been largely free of guerrilla violence but like other towns is still suffering from power and water shortages more than two years after a U.S.-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussein.

The unrest is worrying for the new Shi'ite-led government because southern Iraq, its main power base, is usually calm.

"Gunmen shot at my house because I voted for the resignation of the mayor," said local politician Mohammed Hassouni, highlighting how political decisions in Iraq can be made by the gun or the ballot box.

The Shi'ite south was ill-favoured under Saddam's Sunni-dominated rule and hopes were high after his overthrow and the election of a Shi'ite-led government that life would improve.

Now they also face Shi'ite rivalries in city hall that make the chances of better services even more remote.

[Barrett808]

1. You have to wonder if the US is trying to break up the Shi'a block

I can easily imagine a political warfare campaign to weaken SCIRI and Da'wa.

[jarab]

2. kick

...O...

[Cocoa]

3. Political turmoil hits Iraqi town

http://www.thecouriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16222647%255E1702,00.html

POLITICAL crisis gripped the southern Iraqi town of Samawah today as the ousted regional governor refused to resign, the provincial council chief quit and another official said gunmen had threatened him.

The uncertainty came in the wake of protests over public services that erupted on Sunday.

Police fired into the crowd of hundreds, killing one person and wounding 40.

A day later, regional council members voted to oust governor Mohammed al-Hassaani, head of al-Muthanna province, one of 18 Iraqi regions, after the protesters had demanded his resignation in the town.

<snip>

Samawah's political crisis came a day after the mayor of Baghdad said he was ousted by gunmen who installed a rival.

more...

[54anickel]

4. Well, there's a fine howdy-doo. I thought "staying the course" was

going to prevent this from happening. This is what they claimed would happen if we left before the Iraqi's were ready. Well, it's happening anyway....with or without us there....Bring the troops home.

[Cocoa]

5. and this isn't even related to the insurgency

this is Shiite vs. Shiite, and we're probably arming both sides.

Wait til things blow up in Kirkuk. :nuke:

[barb162]

6. "mayor of Baghdad said he was ousted by gunmen"

speechless

[Roland99]

7. SCIRI is taking advantage of the newly formed "democracy" in Iraq.

How nice.

[IndianaGreen]

8. Let freedom ring!

Shia versus Shia violence is a bad thing. In a country where tribalism and honor codes are still prevalent, a blood feud would turn Iraq into another Lebanese-style civil war.

[NNN0LHI]

9. Political turmoil after protests

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=48219&version=1&template_id=42&parent_id=18

SAMAWA: A political crisis gripped the southern Iraqi town of Samawa yesterday as the ousted regional governor refused to resign, the provincial council chief quit and another official said gunmen had threatened him.

The uncertainty came in the wake of protests over public services that erupted on Sunday. Police fired into the crowd of hundreds, killing one person and wounding 40. snip

Samawa, populated mainly by Shia Muslims, has been largely free of guerrilla violence but like other towns is still suffering from power and water shortages more than two years after a US-led invasion toppled Saddam Hussain. snip

Supporters of fiery cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, who led two uprisings against US troops, have also stepped in to the fray in Samawa, 270km south of Baghdad.

Residents said his militiamen roamed the streets and fired rockets at police after the SCIRI-backed mayor was ousted. Al-Sadr and SCIRI are generally seen as rivals for the allegiances of Shia voters.