Assassination of Sheik Abu Risha, Who Met Bush in Al-Anbar, 15 Iraqis Killed

Sotaliraq newspaper reported the following news for today.

- Five Iraqis were killed, ten were injured in Sadr city.

- One Iraqi was killed, six were arrested by US forces in Al-Diwaniyah.

- A policeman was killed, seven were injured in an attack in Mosul.

- 3 Iraqis were killed, 80 were arrested by US forces in Taji.

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The US news agency, Associated Press, reported the deaths of ten Iraqis in the following news report.

AP Headline: Bomb kills Iraqi sheik who met with Bush

By SAMEER N. YACOUB Associated Press Writer

Sep 13, 2007, 12:08 PM EDT

BAGHDAD (AP) --

The most prominent figure in a U.S.-backed revolt of Sunni sheiks against al-Qaida in Iraq was killed Thursday by a bomb planted near his home in Al-Anbar province, 10 days after he met with President Bush, police and tribal leaders said.

Abdul-Sattar Abu Risha was leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, also known as the Anbar Awakening - an alliance of clans backing the Iraqi government and U.S. forces.

The death of the charismatic young sheik dealt a blow to American efforts to recruit tribal leaders to fight (on their side).

The White House, preparing for Bush's Iraq speech to the nation Thursday night, called his death an "unfortunate and outrageous act," but said it was not a setback because other sheiks have said the killing would not deter them from working with the United States against al-Qaida. It also said it believed al-Qaida in Iraq was responsible.

Abu Risha and two of his bodyguards were killed by a roadside bomb planted near the tribal leader's home in the provincial capital of Ramadi, said Col. Tareq Youssef, supervisor of Anbar police.

But two Pentagon officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about the matter, said the assassination could be a huge setback because it sends a chilling message about the consequences of cooperating with the U.S.

It was not the first time that Abu Risha has been targeted. A suicide bomber tried and failed to kill him on Feb. 19. That same day, gunmen ambushed a minivan on the main highway from Baghdad to Anbar and killed all 13 passengers who were accused of opposing the largely Sunni al-Qaida in Iraq.

In June, a suicide bomber blew himself up in the lobby of Baghdad's Mansour Hotel during a meeting of U.S.-linked Sunni tribal leaders, killing 13 people and wounding 27. Among those killed was the former governor of Anbar and sheik of the al-Bu Nimir tribe, Fassal al-Guood - a key ally of Abu Risha. A day later, al-Qaida in Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack.

Abu Risha, who was 36 or 37, lived within the walls of a massive compound that housed several villas that were home to him and his extended family. The compound was guarded by a tank, and was across the street from the largest U.S. military base in Ramadi. Within the walls were camels, other animals and palm trees, which he spent time showing to visitors.

He spent days meeting with tribal sheiks, discussing the fate of Anbar and al-Qaida. He was constantly busy, with lines of people waiting to speak to him, and took endless calls on his cell phone.

In other (Iraq war attacks) Thursday, police said six people were killed and 18 wounded when a bomb under a parked car exploded near the Sadr City section of Baghdad. The bomb was apparently aimed at a U.S. convoy but missed its target, police said.

In eastern Baghdad, a roadside bomb killed one person and injured two others, police also said.

Near Samarra, 60 miles north of the Iraqi capital, authorities said about 60 gunmen attacked a police station and ignited clashes with residents and police - leaving four assailants dead and two policemen wounded.

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Associated Press writers David Rising in Baghdad and Pauline Jelinek in Washington contributed to this story.

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