26 dead as Sunni protesters, security forces clash in Iraq

PanARMENIAN.Net - At least 26 people have been killed in clashes between security forces and Sunni Arab protesters in northern Iraq, officials say, according to BBC News.

Violence erupted when security forces raided an anti-government protest camp in Hawija, near Kirkuk.

There have been weekly demonstrations against Iraq's Shia-led government by Sunni Arabs across the country since the end of last year.

The latest incident comes as Iraq awaits the results of provincial polls.

The elections were the first since the last U.S. troops withdrew from Iraq at the end of December 2011 and followed an escalation of sectarian violence.

The town of Hawija has been under siege since last weekend when an Iraqi officer was killed in clashes with protesters there. Security forces demanded that the suspects be handed over but residents did not comply.

A final attempt at mediation broke down on Monday, April 22 night and troops were sent in at dawn. The Iraqi government claimed its forces came under attack and had to respond.

But protesters said they were staging an unarmed sit-in when soldiers opened fire. Security forces and demonstrators died in Tuesday's clashes, officials said.

There were reports of attacks on army posts and checkpoints in the area apparently in retaliation.

It is the first time the Iraqi army has resorted to force to end the months-long Sunni protest movement.

Sunnis accuse the government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of discriminating against them. The government denies the accusations and says that protesters have been infiltrated by militant groups.