Al-Qaeda in Iraq calls on Sunnis to fight government February 1, 2013 - 14:57 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - An al-Qaeda-affiliated group in Iraq has called on Sunnis to take up arms against the Shiite-led government, as sectarian tensions and large Sunni protests increase, The Associated Press reported. In an audio statement posted Friday, Feb 1, on the website of the Islamic State of Iraq, spokesman Abu Mohammed al-Adnani says Sunnis can bow to the Shiites or to take up arms to restore "dignity and freedom." Al-Adnani says recent Sunni protests against Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki mark the end of Sunni humiliation in Iraq. Thousands of Sunnis rallied Friday in the city of Fallujah in the western province of Anbar. Protesters complain of official discrimination, saying anti-terrorism laws and other policies largely target minority Sunnis. The protests were sparked by the December arrests of bodyguards of a senior Sunni politician. Partner news  Top stories Amy Elliott, chief administrative officer of the Oklahoma medical examiner's office, said 51 were confirmed dead. An Islamist insurgency, once confined largely to the republic of Chechnya, has spread across the North Caucasus in recent years. Earlier, at least five Azerbaijan soldiers were killed and six seriously injured when their vehicle rammed into a tree and overturned. Among its provisions are bans on child marriage and the traditional practice of selling and buying women to settle disputes.   Partner news |  Latest news U.S. shuts down Guantanamo wi-fi over hacking threats  Army Lt. Col. Samuel House says the precautions were taken because of online threats to disrupt activities at the base.U.S., Chinese Presidents to meet June 7-8 in California American concerns about tensions in the South China Sea due to conflicting territorial claims are also a possible topic of discussion.Oil prices rise as investors await Fed’s latest views on U.S. economy Brent crude, a benchmark for many international oil varieties, rose 21 cents to $105.01 a barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.Nokia Siemens unveils tools for better mobile video performance The company says its new capabilities can reduce video stalling by 90% while also cutting demand for capacity by 25%. |
