Sectarian armed clashes emerge in western Baghdad


dpa German Press Agency
Published: Friday January 5, 2007

Baghdad- Armed clashes between have broken out between residents of the Amel district in western Baghdad and terrorist militants, Iraq's state television channel al-Iraqia TV reported in an urgent news bulletin Friday. The Association of Muslim Scholars in Iraq had warned Baghdad's residents in a statement Thursday about the aim of "terrorist, sectarian militias" to attack a number of districts in Baghdad on Friday.

The statement called on the international community and the Arab League to intervene and warned the current government about the dangers of "sectarianism."

The Iraqi government blasted the association's statement as "deliberately spurring subversion" and said it would hold the association responsible for the consequences that may result.

Meanwhile, residents have blocked streets in several districts in Baghdad in a bid to prevent attacks or clashes, reports in the Iraqi capital said.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency