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Al-Sadr Denies Link to Iraq Kidnapping ...[Something's fishy about Japanese 'hostages']
Associated Press ^
| 4-9-04
Posted on 04/09/2004 6:11:21 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP)--A senior aide to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al-Sadr denied on Friday that the religious leader's militia was involved in the kidnapping of three Japanese and threats to burn them alive.
On Thursday, a video was released showing the three--two aid workers and a photojournalist--surrounded by gunmen in the black garb typical of al-Sadr's militiamen. The three were seized in southern Iraq, where the Shiite cleric's militia, the al-Mahdi Army, has been fighting coalition forces. The captors said the three would be burned alive if Japan did not agree to pull its 530 non-combat troops out of the country.
But Amer al-Husseini, the cleric's representative in the Sadr City district of Baghdad, told reporters after Friday's Muslim prayers that the group had nothing to do with the kidnapping.
``We condemn such acts and we pray for their release,'' al-Husseini said.
[snip]
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Foreign Affairs; Government; Japan; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; War on Terror
KEYWORDS: iraq; japanesehostages; wankers
To: All
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2
posted on
04/09/2004 6:12:11 AM PDT
by
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To: Oldeconomybuyer
Curiouser and curiouser.
3
posted on
04/09/2004 6:13:19 AM PDT
by
livius
To: Oldeconomybuyer
My guess is that the "insurgency" is uncoordinated. The kidnappers, rebels, and fighters are small groups working relatively independently. That's why the cease fire in Fallujah hasn't stuck. There's no one on the opposing side to control the firing.
To: Oldeconomybuyer; All
Has anyone seen whether this "Mujahedeen Squadrons" group is Sunni or Shia in its identification? I've not seen anything, but maybe there has been nothing in any of the news stories. If they have identified with the former Baathists, Sadr could plausibly deny having anything to do with it.
5
posted on
04/09/2004 6:21:00 AM PDT
by
Cap Huff
To: Oldeconomybuyer
The expression "proxy war" comes to mind, for some reason.
6
posted on
04/09/2004 6:31:04 AM PDT
by
Imal
(Become a Free Republic Monthly Donor! It's easy, painless and makes the world a better place.)
To: Oldeconomybuyer
``We condemn such acts and we pray for their release,'' al-Husseini said. All Iraqi Muslims are equally guilty and cowardly.
7
posted on
04/09/2004 9:51:30 AM PDT
by
Mike Darancette
(General - Alien Army of the Right (AAOTR))
To: Mike Darancette
Sounds like a chink in the armour...
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