Outspoken Sunni Official in Iraq Fired

[Eugene]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5177856,00.html

Outspoken Sunni Official in Iraq Fired

Saturday July 30, 2005 10:16 AM

AP Photo BAG114

By SAMEER N. YACOUB

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - One of the few senior Sunni officials who had urged Sunni Arabs to join Iraq's political process has been fired, the government said Saturday. The death toll from a suicide attack on Iraqi army recruits rose to 44.

Adnan al-Dulaimi was dismissed July 24 as head of the Sunni
Endowment, the government agency in charge of the upkeep of Sunni
mosques and shrines, Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari's office said.
It declined to speak further on the matter.

Al-Dulaimi told The Associated Press he was fired for defending
Sunnis, who dominated Iraqi politics under Saddam Hussein but feel
marginalized by the current U.S.-backed, Shiite-dominated government.
Drawing Sunnis into the political process is seen as key for
legitimizing any Iraqi government.

"I think that the reason behind my dismissal is that they want to
silence a voice that is speaking against unjustified practices
against Sunnis such as arrests, torture in the prisons, and also for
my calls to release innocent detainees and to save Iraq from
sectarianism, insecurity and divisions," al-Dulaimi told The
Associated Press.

more...

[EFerrari]

1. He makes sense. Had to get rid of him. n/t

[meganmonkey]

2. Well, considering they're learning about democracy from such an esteemed

leader in the field, I am not surprised that they are catching on so quickly.

:sarcasm: