Gorilla’s Guides

Summary:

Al-Sadr cancels the march to Samarra, the situation between the Americans, the green zone government and Turkey took a sharp turn for the worse. The pipeline north of Hilla was bombed as part of the continuing campaign to fragment the electricity grid,

The main purely domestic story of the day in Irak is that Al-Sadr has canceled the March to the bombed shrine of the two Imams in Samara. (see immediately preceding posting for full report.) The Iraqi Accord Front have praised the move. saying that it speaks highly of Mr. Muqtada al-Sadr his noble religious impulses shared values, the brotherhood between Irakis and:

“recognition of the poor security situation that prevails in the country which does not allow such marches now.”

The public criticism of the Maliki regime’s performance by the religious establishment continued unabated — Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani’s representative warned during his Friday sermon in Karbala that leaving Irak’s borders open to weapons smuggling would undo any progress in the security situation. During the sermon he also wondered what had happened to all the money allegedly spent on the armed forces saying:

“$ 19 billion was spent to build the security organs .. Where is this money gone? Either it was stolen or … … the figures are exaggerated. “

Intentionally the situation between Baghdad, Ankara, and Washington deteriorated yet further today. Reuters Arabic service and Reuters English service both carry reports that Turkey has prepared detailed plans for a cross-border operation into Iraq against Kurdish rebels and will act if U.S. or Iraqi forces fail to tackle them. Gul was interviewed by the Turkish newspaper Radikal. You can find the Radikal interview here.

The New Anatolian quote him as saying that “every kind of scenario is ready and on the table.” There is a fairly detailed report which you can find here in which Gul is quoted as saying that Turkey has prepared detailed plans for a cross-border operation inside Iraq against the PKK Kurdish rebels and they will move unless American forces or green zone government forces start confronting the rebels. The report quotes Gul’s statement in the Radikal interview:

“The army has prepared precise and finely detailed plans. The government knows these plans and approves them. If the green zone government government or the occupying American forces is unable to do so (crush PKK) we will take our own decision and implement it.”

In a separate interview conducted Friday with the network CNN, Turkish television, he was asked whether the Turkish Parliament had been summoned to give leave for a military operation to take place he said that this was probable. (Whether this is necessary or not depends on the scale of the operation to be mounted.)

Reports From Baghdad

There’s more after the jump …

Al-Sadr has canceled the march to Samarra. Aswat Al Iraq’s report is below:

Al-Sadr cancels march to Samarra

Najaf - Voices of Iraq Friday , 29 /06 /2007 Time 4:12:55

Najaf, June 29, (VOI) - The Imam of al-Kufa mosque said on Friday that Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr decided to cancel his call to visit the city of Samarra scheduled for next weekend.

During the Friday sermon in al-Kufa mosque, Sheikh Assad al-Naseri said that “Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr issued an order to cancel our march to Samarra after the government decided to abandon protection for the visitors.”

During the sermon which was attended by thousands of al-Sadr’s followers, the imam also said, “If the government is no longer able to protect citizens it has to step aside.”

Al-Kufa mosque is the place where al-Sadr used to deliver his Friday sermon.

Al-Sadr called on his followers on Thursday to march on the city of Samarra after suspected al-Qaeda militants blew up the two minarets of the revered al-Askari mosque on June 13.

Sunni Samarra is located 100 km north of Baghdad.

He made his call to pressure the government to speed up reconstruction operations for the mosque, which had its dome attacked in February 2006 and was attacked again recently this month.

“We want Iraqis, tribes, community leaders and officials to show goodwill and cooperation to make this visit successful and a turning point in broken relations, because the criminals who destroyed the shrine will not be pleased (by this march),” said the statement released from al-Sadr’s office in the Shiite city of Najaf on Thursday.

The prime minister’s office later released a statement saying more time was needed to make the road to Samarra safe.

“While we take into account the emotion of people who want to march peacefully to Samarra, we say that the task of securing the road is still incomplete according to reports from field leaders on the ground,” the government statement said.

The latest attack on the al-Askari mosque occurred more than a year after gunmen blew up the shrine’s golden dome in February 2006. That attack sparked waves of sectarian violence that has pushed Iraq close to all-out civil war.

The al-Askari Mosque, also known as the Golden Mosque, is one of the four major Shiite shrines in Iraq.

Two of the 12 revered Shiite imams are buried in the shrine: Imam Ali al-Hadi, who died in 868, and his son, the 11^th imam Hasan al-Askari, who died in 874.

Source: Aswat Al Iraq (English) The Arabic Text forthis report is here.

Updated — see “Late Reports” underneath this section. - Khaled

There are several major incidents in Baghdad today.

Bai’aa Bus Pickup Point Bombing

The rush hour (8:30 am) car bomb explosion in the crowded parking lot in the Bai’aa bus pickup point in south Baghdad is so far known to have killed at least 25 people and wounded 40. This toll will rise.

The bomb was in a parked car in the parking lot at the main road into Baghdad’s intersection. This is where Baghdadis from the densely populated Southern suburbs arrive and wait to be picked up by one of Baghdad’s omnipresent Kia minibuses that hold 11 people to arrive and take them to work. It was timed to inflict maximum casualties.

The blast left a large crater — looking at the photos the crater seems to be about 10 metres² indicating that a large amount of high grade explosive was used.

The blast charred and destroyed about 40 civilian cars and minibuses at the parking lot where dozens of minibuses carry passengers from southern Baghdad to different neighborhoods of the capital. Most of the passengers inside the Kia minibuses present were either burned, killed or wounded inside the minibuses or in their cars as they parked. Rescuers talk of pulling people caught in vehicles at the periphery of the blast area who were partially melted. This indicates that, as the bomber doubtless hoped, there were numerous secondaries. As well corpses in the vehicles there were many corpses on the ground many of those were also charred beyond recognition, and many were in the “pugilist pose” indicating that they were subjected to extreme heat. There are bits of human flesh all over the place — so many that picking them all up is going to take a few hours more.

Many of those pulled from vehicles are expected to die.

Residents of the area, which has been attacked repeatedly, were well aware that it was a prime target. This report from the independent Iraki newsagency Aswat Al Iraq (Voices of Iraq) quotes one resident as saying:

“We residents of this district know very well that this place would be targeted … we tried to protect the place, by erecting checkpoints around it but the Americans prevented us.”

Television reports are showing pictures of the many people from the neighborhood engaging in rescues attempts and helping transfer the bodies spread over the place to hospitals. Al-Yarmouk would the hospital that would get most victims from this district. So far there are no reports of the Americans or their interior ministry commando buddies opening fire on the rescuers which in this district is surprising.

Al Mansour Gas Station Bombing

The car bomb explosion around 13:00 hours Baghdad time that targeted a queue of people waiting to buy petrol in front of a gas station in Abu Jaafar Al-Mansour killed five people and wounded 12, 10 cars were set on fire by the blast — their fuel tanks exploded.

Al Shorjah Market Mortar Attack

The mortar attack on Al Shorjah market is the latest in a long series of attacks on this vital market, which has been subjected to massive bombing attacks and several major arson attacks.

Two mortar shells landed in the area hitting stalls and damaging shops. Two people were killed 12 wounded.

It’s difficult to exaggerate the importance of this market. It’s a major shopping centre in its own right but far more importantly is a major wholesale hub for all of Irak. Traders, shopowners, and wholesalers come to Al Shorjah daily to buy, sell, and place orders. Many workers and traders here travel in from the adjoining governorates to work and they have been the target of a concentrated campaign of murder and kidnapping.

Update

WNA are now reporting that the Al Shorjah mortar attack toll is now 3 dead and 20 wounded.

Late reports:

Reports From Baghdad

15 Unidentified bodies have been recovered in Baghdad.

The American “embassy” has denied interfering in the case, of the green zone government  Minister of Culture currently wanted for murder. They denied that they had provided information that warned him he was to be arrested and denied having anything to do with the fact that his South American mercenary bodyguards prevented his arrest. (— Nobody in Baghdad believed them.)

Speaking of not believing … Reuters Arabic are reporting that the American army said on Thursday that it was investigating the reports an American attack resulted in the killing  and wounding of residents protecting their homes from attack by terrorists. The American army had issued a statement on June 22 saying that the attack helicopters killed 17 gunmen base south-west of Khalis before dawn that day. The investigation is in response to reports on the BBC and CNN. The Reuters report concludes with this:

“The American army said earlier today, Thursday, that they killed at least 60 Al Qaeda members in the attack that lasted for ten days in that region. In the light of the serious risks in Irak it is difficult for journalists to verify the authenticity of the official accounts of the attacks using independent sources. “

Adnan Dulaimi called upon the green zone government and the American command to expedite the arming of the tribes, saying that such a step was necessary to achieve security in Irak. (The man has a sense of humour)

Muqtada al-Sadr’s office issued a clarifying statement about the proposed march to Samarra.

Prof Dr Nihad Al-Rawi, Assistant to the President of Baghdad University was assassinated at 2.00pm Tuesday 26/6/2007 whilst on his way back home by militia men. The murder took place on AL-Jadriya Bridge, Baghdad and he was accompanied by his daughter Rana. Rana’s clothes became covered with her father’s blood. He will be buried tomorrow morning (Wednesday). (Mosul Observer)

Al Anbar Governorate

Two members of the green zone government police were shot in Andalus market Fallujah one died of his wounds immediately the other is said to be in serious condition.

The Americans started on Wednesday to issue biometric identity cards to Ramadi residents as the have been doing in Fallujah for the last two years.

Dhi Qar Governorate

Companies from Turkey, Iran, the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan have not responded to invitations to tender for construction projects in Dhi Qar despite assurances given by governorate authorities that the governorate would provide protection and facilitation services.

Karbala Governorate

Karbala governorate authorities have discovered and deactivated munitions in a dump 45Kmwest of Karbala. The munitions included grenades, Katyusha rockets, dynamite, and

Maysan Governorate

An explosive device had been planted near a gas station in the industrial zone in Amarah was found and defused by bomb disposal officers following a tip-off from an informant.

Muthanna Governorate

The political situation in Muthanna is growing tense following the failed assassination attempt on the head of the Sadrist office in Samawah on Tuesday and the Sadrist detention of a soldier they considered responsible for the bomb attack on his convoy.  Regional leaders have called upon green zone government leader Maliki to visit Samawah to try to negotiate another peace between the Sadrists and the SIIC (SCIRI) dominated security forces. Maliki has accepted the invitation and was likely to visit Samawah within days. Among the matters to be resolved will be the reabsorbtion of paramilitary guards into green zone government forces.

Najaf Governorate

A Turkish delegation met governorate authorities in Najaf to present the capabilities of Turkish companies in building bridges, turnkey construction projects, and the building

Ninawa Governorate

7:52
Sacking 10 employees from Nineveh Television
The contracts of 10 employees at Iraqi Nineveh Television Station with an immediate effect from today 28/6/2007 was announced by an official spokesman from the Station. The reason behind this decision was not been made public. Mosul Observer

Salah ad Din Governorate

An attack on a truck convoy carrying construction materials to rebuild the Ztigon bridge was attacked. One of the drivers a native of Touz was killed. Rebuilding the bridge will take 8 months.

Tony Blair as envoy to the Middle East. God have pity on us all. Tony Blair whose hands drip with the blood of hundreds of thousands of Iraqis, Tony Blair who co-sponsored Israel’s savagely murderous attack on Lebanon. Tony Blair who tried to cover up one crooked arms deal after another to the Saudis. Tony Blair who’ll do anything for the American Empire. Tony Blair Bush’s obedient little bitch poodle. Tony Blair Britain’s worst premier since Neville Chamberlain.

Tony Blair is going to be the quartet’s envoy? It’s bad enough that the Middle East is swimming in rivers of blood without actually creating lakes of the stuff. Tony Blair would cheerfully re-crucify Christ if he thought it would please his masters in Washington he’s already helped them do it to the people of Irak.

markfromireland.

The campaign of bombings of sites of major religious significance continued with the bombing in Kadhimiya in Baghdad.

The bridge bombing campaign in Baghdad continued with a suicide attack on one of the checkpoints at Jadriya bridge this evening that killed one policeman, wounded three others, and damaged the bridge.

The shockwaves of Monday’s bombing of the Mansour Hotel in Baghdad continued today. Tests at the scene confirmed that reports that the explosion was caused by a suicide bomber and that about 12Kg of explosive augmented by ball bearings and nails were used in the bomb. The bomber targeted a meeting of sheikhs and leaders both from Al-Anbar and the south causing the death of 12 persons, including Gen. Aziz al-Yassiri. Sheikhs Khalifa, Rabah Alaalouani, and Dahham al-Ubaydi are now confirmed to be among the wounded. The green zone government has withdrawn the license of SBS a British company that supplies mercenaries in Irak. During the press conference today Gen. Khalaf pointed to the existence of three entrances to the hotel one of which (the one overlooking the Tigris) was used by VIPs such as the Sheikhs. Security procedures at the entrances was the responsibility of SBS and Gen. Khalaf said that the company had not searched people coming into the hotel.

[Technical note: This interpretation of events sounds about right. There are 3 entrances to the hotel one of them used almost exclusively by staff it would be easy enough for someone known to the people at the checkpoint to use an excuse such as “I’m late for work” to escape a thorough search. 12Kg sounds about right for the scale of the damage and the absence of a crater coupled with the blast pattern visible in the photographs all point to such an attack. In not one of the photographs is there a crater visible. The wounds of the injured fit the pattern of bombings using relatively weak or small amounts of explosives. In order to maximise casualties when using weak explosives or small amounts of more powerful material it is now standard practise to include ballbearings, nails, or sharp slivers of metal. This techinque was pioneered by loyalist terrorists in Northern Ireland because they were forced to rely on homemade explosives unlike the IRA who had access to plentiful supplies of high grade explosive. — markfromireland. see also this report from freebab.com.]

Relations between Baghdad and Ankara continued to deteriorate. The commander of the Turkish armed forces reiterated today that there needed to be a cross-border operation in northern Iraq to crush Kurdish rebels there, adding that this would be useful. In a press conference broadcast on Turkish television Turkey’s Chief of Staff Gen. Yasar Buyukanit said:

“I said earlier (in April) that we need for a cross-border operation and that this would be useful. I now repeat this opinion. “

The southern governorates are to coordinate mine clearance operations representatives from Maysan, Dhi Qar and Babel, Najaf and Karbala attended a conferencein Basrah and agreed to coordinate their efforts.

Site News: We have today added a category “Bridge Bombing Campaign” to list of searchable categories for the site.

Nur

Reports From Baghdad