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Iraq’s fugitive VP convicted as attacks kill 92

Iraq’s fugitive Sunni vice president was sentenced Sunday to death by hanging on charges he masterminded death squads against rivals in a terror trial that has fueled sectarian tensions in the country. Underscoring the instability, insurgents unleashed an onslaught of bombings and shootings across Iraq, killing at least 92 people in one of the deadliest days this year.

It’s unlikely that the attacks in 13 cities were all timed to coincide with the afternoon verdict that capped a monthslong case against Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi, a longtime foe of Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Still, taken together, the violence and verdict could energize Sunni insurgents bent on returning Iraq to the brink of civil war by targeting Shiites and undermining the government.

Al-Hashemi fled to Turkey in the months after the Shiite-led government accused him of playing a role in 150 bombings, assassinations and other attacks from 2005 to 2011 _ years in which the country was mired in retaliatory sectarian violence that followed the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein’s Sunni regime. Most of the attacks were allegedly carried out by al-Hashemi’s bodyguards and other employees, and largely targeted government officials, security forces and Shiite pilgrims.

The vice president declined to immediately comment on the verdict after meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu in Ankara. He said he would “tackle this issue in a statement” in coming hours.

The politically charged case _ which was announced the day after U.S. troops withdrew from the country last December _ sparked a government crisis and fueled Sunni Muslim and Kurdish resentment against al-Maliki, whom critics say is monopolizing power.

Violence has ebbed significantly, but insurgents continue to stage high-profile bombings and shooting rampages. Al-Qaida’s Iraq branch has promised a comeback in predominantly Sunni areas from which it was routed by the U.S. and its local allies after sectarian fighting peaked in 2007.

“These attacks show al-Qaida’s ability to hit any place in Iraq and at any time,” said Ali Salem, 40, an elementary school teacher in Baghdad. “The lack of security could take us back to zero.”

The worst violence on Sunday struck the capital, where bombs pounded a half-dozen neighborhoods _ both Sunni and Shiite _ thoughout the day. But the deadliest attacks in Baghdad hit Shiite areas Sunday evening, hours after the al-Hashemi verdict was announced. In all, 42 people were killed in the capital and 120 wounded, according to police and hospital officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information.

The countrywide attacks began before dawn, with gunmen killing soldiers at an army post in the central Iraqi city of Dujail. A few hours later, a car exploded in a lot where police recruits waiting in line to apply for jobs outside Kirkuk in the country’s north. Both Dujail and Kirkuk are former insurgent strongholds.

Over the day, at least 92 people were killed and more than 360 wounded in at least 21 separate bombings and shootings, according to reports from police and hospital officials. No group immediately claimed responsibility, but Iraq’s Interior Ministry blamed al-Qaida in Iraq.

“The attacks today on the markets and mosques are aimed at provoking sectarian and political tensions,” the ministry said in a statement. “Our war against terrorism is continuing, and we are ready.”

The courtroom at Baghdad’s criminal court was silent Sunday as the presiding judge read out the verdict. It convicted al-Hashemi and his son-in-law, Ahmed Qahtan, of organizing the murders of a Shiite security official and a lawyer who had refused to help the vice president’s allies in terror cases. The two defendants were acquitted in a third case of the killing of a security officer due to a lack of evidence.

The court sentenced both men in absentia to death by hanging. They have 30 days to appeal the verdict and could win a retrial if they return to Iraq to face the charges. Al-Hashemi _ who has been in office since 2006 _ is on Interpol’s most-wanted list, but Turkey has shown no interest in sending the vice president back to Baghdad.

The defense team began its closing statement with a searing indictment of Iraq’s justice system, accusing it of showing no independence and siding with the Shiite-led government.

“From the beginning and through all procedures it has become obvious that the Iraqi judicial system has been under political pressure,” attorney Muayad Obeid al-Ezzi, the head of the defense team, told the court.

The presiding judge immediately interjected, warning that that the court would open legal proceedings against the defense team if it continued to heap accusations on the court or the legal system.

Reaction to the verdict was largely along sectarian lines on the streets of Baghdad.

Sunni lawyer Abdullah al-Azami called the trial “another farce to be added to the Iraqi judicial system.”

Shiite pharmacist Khalid Saied, meanwhile, said he supported the verdict and hoped the government would broadcast all the evidence against al-Hashemi “so that the entire world knows him.”

Sunday’s violence came amid fears that the insurgency has gained new strength after suffering heavy setbacks in U.S. and Iraqi offensives. Four of the attacks targeted Kirkuk, where city police commander Brig. Gen. Sarhad Qadir blamed the violence on al-Qaida.

The carnage stretched into the country’s south, where bombs stuck to two parked cars exploded in the Shiite-dominated city of Nasiriyah, 320 kilometers (200 miles) southeast of Baghdad. The blasts were near the French consulate and a local hotel in the city, although the consulate did not appear to be a target of the attack.

Local deputy health director Dr. Adnan al-Musharifawi said two people were killed and three were wounded at the hotel, and one Iraqi policeman was wounded at the consulate. Al-Musharifawi said no French diplomats were among the casualties. In Paris, France’s Foreign Ministry said it “condemns with the greatest severity” the wave of attacks.

A string of smaller attacks Sunday also struck nine other cities. It was one of the worst outbreaks of violence in Iraq in 2012, although the single deadliest day was July 23, which saw at least 115 people killed _ the most in more than two years. (AP)




<관련 한글 기사>


이라크 내전 '최악'‥테러로 100여명 사망


이라크 전역에서 지난 주말 동안 수십 건 의 폭탄 테러가 발생해 100여 명이 숨지는 등 이라크 종파 분쟁이 올 들어 최악의 상황으로 치닫고 있다.

이번 유혈사태는 타레크 알 하셰미 이라크 부통령이 9일(현지시간) 암살단을 조직해 이라크 보안군과 시아파 신자를 상대로 테러를 한 혐의로 사형선고를 받으면서 격화됐다.

이날 바그다드 법원은 지난해 12월 이라크를 탈출해 현재 터키에 머물고 있는 하셰미 부통령에 대한 궐석 재판을 진행해 보안군과 변호사 1명을 살해한 혐의를 인 정해 사형을 선고했다.

하셰미 부통령은 이라크 내 최고위급 수니파 정치인으로, 그동안 혐의를 강력하게 부인하며 시아파 정부에 의한 정치모략이라고 주장해왔다. 현재 이라크 정부는 누리 알 말리키 총리가 이끄는 시아파가 주도하고 있다.

이날 법원의 선고 이후 바그다드 시아파 밀집 지역의 한 식당 밖과 상업지구 등 에서 5건의 폭탄 테러가 발생해 32명이 사망하고 102명이 다쳤다고 현지 의료 소식통들이 전했다.

바그다드 북부에서는 차량 폭탄이 터져 13명이 숨지고 최소 32명이 부상했으며, 바그다드 북부 슈알라에서도 차량 폭탄 공격이 발생해 5명이 사망하고 22명이 다쳤다.

사형선고가 내려지기 몇 시간 전에도 이라크 남부의 나시리야에 있는 프랑스 영 사관 밖에서 차량 폭탄이 터져 경찰 1명이 숨지는 등 전역에서 폭탄테러와 총격사건으로 58명이 숨졌다.

테러는 남부 바스라에서 북서부 시리아 국경의 탈 아파르에 이르기까지 최소한 이라크 11개 도시에서 자행됐다.

바그다드 북부 발라드 부근에선 무장괴한들이 군 검문소에 총기를 난사하고 현장에 도착한 이라크군 병력을 겨냥해 급조폭발물(IED)을 터트려 장교 2명을 포함해 11명이 사망하고 8명이 부상하기도 했다.

이라크에서는 2003년 미국의 이라크 공습 이후 사담 후세인의 수니파 정권이 물러나고 다수인 시아파가 정권을 잡으면서 많은 수니파인들이 소외감을 느껴왔다.

특히 수니파와 쿠르드 세력은 말리키 총리가 권력 공유 합의를 지키지 않고 권력을 독점하고 있다고 거세게 반발하면서 정부 기능이 거의 마비 상태에 빠졌다.

더욱이 지난해 12월 미군이 철수한 이후 수니파 이슬람 과격단체들이 정부군과 시아파 주민 등을 상대로 끊임없이 공격을 감행해 2006~2007년 내전 당시와 가까운 상태로 빠졌고, 올해 8월에만 278명이 각종 테러로 희생당했다.

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