Iraq Holy Shrine Bombing Triggers Sectarian Violence; Nation Nears Civil War

Interview with Chris Toensing, editor of Middle East Report, conducted by Scott Harris

The Feb. 22 bombing of the Askariya Shrine in Samarra, one of the holiest sites of the Shia religion in Iraq, set off a wave sectarian violence that in a week may have killed as many as 1,300. In retaliation for the destruction of the gold-domed shrine, Shia militias attacked and killed Sunni clerics and destroyed or took over dozens of Sunni Mosques. The execution-style murders of men, women and children, randomly targeted for their religious faith, illustrated the depth of anger and hate that engulfed Iraq over the past week.

Government police and the U.S. military did little to stop the violence, but the imposition of a daytime curfew limited the carnage. However, continuing attacks and counter-attacks triggered by the shrine bombing has brought the low-level conflict in Iraq closer to becoming an all-out civil war. Shiite and Sunni politicians working to form a new Iraqi government abruptly halted their negotiations, but representatives of both sides publicly blamed the U.S. occupation for being, in part, responsible for the bloodshed.

Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Chris Toensing, editor of Middle East Report, who discusses the latest wave of sectarian violence in Iraq and the outlook for a withdrawal of large numbers of U.S. troops.

Contact Middle East Report by calling (202) 223-3677 or visit their website at www.merip.org

Related links:

"Toll in Iraq's Deadly Surge: 1,300," by Ellen Knickmeyer and Bassam Sebti, The Washington Post, Feb. 28, 2006

"Bombing of Shiite Holy Shrine Kills Powerful Cleric and Further Destabilizes U.S.-Occupied Iraq,," Interview with Erik Gustafson, conducted by Scott Harris, Between The Lines week ending Sept. 12, 2003

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