Iraqi military thwarts bid to create Sunni emirate

[ECH1969]

Iraqi military forces have defeated what they called an attempt to create a breakaway Sunni religious territory in Iraq's eastern Diyala province, an army spokesman said yesterday.

"We foiled an attempt to establish an emirate in Diyala," said Brigadier General Shakr Al Kaabi of the Iraqi Army's Fifth Division on the second day of a wide-ranging operation sweeping through the provincial seat of Baquba. He added that according to their intelligence, this "emirate" – a term which can mean an independent state under a religious leader – was to have been announced at the end of Ramadan.

One of Iraq's most mixed Sunni-Shiite provinces, Diyala has in recent months been the site of brutal attacks mostly aimed at driving out civilians from rival sectarian groups.

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=Gulf%2C+Middle+East+%26+Africa&month=October2006&file=World_News200610013738.xml

[acmavm]

1. Oh brother. This will be another mess in an endless stream of messes.

The Shi'ites want an independent state, the Kurds are already forbidding the flying of the 'Iraqi' flag, and now the powers that be just put the kibosh to the Sunni's having an independent 'emirate'.

Just another gallon of gasoline on the fire (so to speak).