Iraq says foreign Arabs behind killing of 22 Shiite pilgrims

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) -  Iraq said Sunday that foreign Arabs took part in the killing of 22 mainly Shiite pilgrims in the Anbar province and accused other countries of trying to fuel sectarian tension in the war-damaged country. Gunmen attacked two buses Monday carrying Shiite pilgrims headed to Syria from the holy Shiite city of Karbala, killing the 22 men while sparing 15 women, 12 children and two elderly men. Four of the victims were Sunni policemen who had hitched a lift with the Shiite pilgrims. The execution-style killings, followed by an angry reaction to the arrest of eight suspects in Anbar by Shiite authorities from Karbala, threatened to rekindle sectarian hostilities. Anbar is a Sunni heartland that saw some of the worst fighting in Iraq’s war. General Farouk al-Araji, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki’s military chief of staff, said that Arab foreigners were among those responsible for carrying out the killings. “It was a well-prepared operation. Many outside parties took part in it,” Araji said in a news conference. “Some of those who did the operation were of Arab nationalities. Arab countries took part in this event through a large amount of dollars,” Araji added. He declined to name any country but said the suspects had confessed that other countries were involved. Maliki tried Saturday to ease sectarian tensions after the attack by meeting tribal leaders and releasing four of the men suspected of carrying out the attack. The four were released because of a lack of evidence, according to two senior Iraqi officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to release the information. Two were let go Friday night and two Saturday night, the officials said, adding that four others are still being held in Baghdad. “They are hired criminals … They want to ignite discord and conflict among Iraqis,” Araji said. “But I would like to tell the Iraqi people that Iraq will not be divided as long as we are alive. This is a promise,” he said./129