Sunnis Vow to Strike Back After Death of Tribal Leader

'Revenge on al-Qaeda,' mourners shout
By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff
Posted Sep 14, 2007 1:57 PM CDT
Sunnis Vow to Strike Back After Death of Tribal Leader
Sheih Efan weeps over the coffin of Sheik Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, founder of Anbar Awakening, in Iraq's Anbar province in the provincial capital of Ramadi, 115 kilometers (70 miles) west of Baghdad, Friday, Sept. 14, 2007. The most prominent figure in a revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaida in Iraq...   (Associated Press)

The killing of a prominent Iraqi tribal leader and US ally will be avenged, angry Sunnis promised today, a day after the sheik died in a bomb attack. Thousands of Iraqis joined the funeral procession for Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, shouting, “Revenge, revenge on al-Qaeda.” The assassination of the influential sheik has roiled Anbar province, the Times of London reports.

Tributes poured in, with political figures from President Bush to Muqtada al-Sadr praising the sheik’s efforts to curb violence by suppressing al-Qaeda. Abu Risha “proved that terrorism can be fought and security can be restored,” al-Sadr’s spokesman said. But an Islamist website rejoiced at the killing, calling the sheik “one of the biggest pigs of the Christian crusade.” (More Abdul Sittar Bezea al Rishawi stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X