Major al-Qaida in Iraq figure jailed (AP) Updated: 2006-02-28 15:52
Iraqi security forces announced the capture of a senior al-Qaida in Iraq
figure as they sought to deflect criticism of their handling of a surge of
sectarian violence. The U.S. ambassador said the risk of civil war from last
week's crisis was over.
Violence throughout Iraq killed 36 people Monday, as fierce fighting broke
out between Iraqi commandos and insurgents southeast of the capital. But
sectarian clashes have declined sharply since the bloodletting that followed the
destruction of a revered Shiite shrine in Samarra, and Baghdad residents
returned to their jobs after three days of a government-imposed curfew.
"We were at home for three days doing nothing," tea vendor Abbas Kudir said.
"We are of limited income. We earn money when people can come and buy tea
normally. We hope the government will pay attention to our difficulties."
Sunni Arab leaders said they were prepared to end their boycott of the talks
on a new government if Shiites return mosques seized in reprisal attacks against
Sunnis and meet other unspecified demands.
"That crisis is over," U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad declared.
"I think the country came to the brink of a civil war, but the Iraqis decided
that they didn't want to go down that path, and came together," the ambassador
told CNN. "Clearly the terrorists who plotted that attack wanted to provoke a
civil war. It looked quite dangerous in the initial 48 hours, but I believe that
the Iraqis decided to come together."
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