Bomb kills top Sunni sheik

BAGHDAD – The most prominent figure in a revolt of Sunni sheiks against al Qaeda in Iraq was killed yesterday in an explosion near his home in Anbar province, Iraqi police said.

Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha was leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, also known as the Anbar Awakening – an alliance of clans backing the Iraqi government and US forces. Abu Risha and two of his bodyguards were killed by a roadside bomb, said Colonel Tareq Youssef, supervisor of Anbar police.No group claimed responsibility for the assassination but suspicion fell on al-Qaeda in Iraq, which US officials say has suffered devastating setbacks in Anbar thanks to Abu Risha and his fellow sheiks.It’s unclear how his death would affect US efforts to organise Sunnis against the terror network.Abu Risha was among a group of tribal leaders who met US President George W.Bush earlier this month at al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province.A senior member of Abu Risha’s group, Sheik Jubeir Rashid, said the explosion took place at 3h30 pm as Abu Risha was returning to his home in Ramadi, Anbar’s provincial capital.”It is a major blow to the council, but we are determined to strike back and continue our work,” Rashid said.”Such an attack was expected, but it will not deter us.”After the bombing, police announced a state of emergency in Ramadi and set up additional checkpoints throughout the city, Rashid said.A Ramadi police officer said Abu Risha had received a group of poor people at his home earlier in the day, to mark the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, said authorities believed the bomb was planted by one of the visitors.- Nampa-APAbu Risha and two of his bodyguards were killed by a roadside bomb, said Colonel Tareq Youssef, supervisor of Anbar police.No group claimed responsibility for the assassination but suspicion fell on al-Qaeda in Iraq, which US officials say has suffered devastating setbacks in Anbar thanks to Abu Risha and his fellow sheiks.It’s unclear how his death would affect US efforts to organise Sunnis against the terror network.Abu Risha was among a group of tribal leaders who met US President George W.Bush earlier this month at al-Asad Air Base in Anbar province.A senior member of Abu Risha’s group, Sheik Jubeir Rashid, said the explosion took place at 3h30 pm as Abu Risha was returning to his home in Ramadi, Anbar’s provincial capital.”It is a major blow to the council, but we are determined to strike back and continue our work,” Rashid said.”Such an attack was expected, but it will not deter us.”After the bombing, police announced a state of emergency in Ramadi and set up additional checkpoints throughout the city, Rashid said.A Ramadi police officer said Abu Risha had received a group of poor people at his home earlier in the day, to mark the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.The officer, speaking on condition of anonymity out of security concerns, said authorities believed the bomb was planted by one of the visitors.- Nampa-AP