Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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September 14, 2007

Mourners at Iraqi Sunni Tribal Leader's Funeral Vow Revenge on
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al-Qaida
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=197992A:A6F02AD83191E160C9153DAB405D34AB9574F7DCC14957C0 Tribal council
leader was killed in roadside bomb near his home, Thursday





Sheikh Abdul Sattar Abu Risha (file photo)

Sunni Arab mourners in western Iraq have called for revenge against
al-Qaida at the funeral of Sunni tribal council leader Sheikh Abdul
Sattar Abu Risha, who was killed in a roadside bomb blast near his
home Thursday.

Scores of Iraqi police and U.S. military vehicles lined the route of
the funeral procession from the slain Sunni leader's home in Ramadi to
the burial grounds Friday.

There has been no claim of responsibility for the killing of Abu
Risha, but family members blamed al-Qaida in Iraq terrorists.

U.S. officials credit Abu Risha and allied sheikhs for organizing
against al-Qaida terrorists and improving security in western al-Anbar
province.

In other news, Iraqi police say at least seven policemen were killed
in a suicide truck bombing at a checkpoint in the northern town of
Baji Friday.

During his visit to Anbar last week, President Bush met with Abu Risha
and highlighted the Sunni tribes' role as a key success story in the
war. Mr. Bush also hailed Abu Risha's courage in his televised address
on Thursday.

The alliance of tribes formally turned against al-Qaida in Iraq last
September.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.


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