Allawi's neighbourhood attacked ahead of new tough security laws
AFP, Baghdad
Insurgents fired shells yesterday morning near Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi's home, wounding at least five people, as Iraq's government signed into law security measures aimed at beating the scourge of suicide attacks and assassinations plaguing the country. The government is promising restrictions on movement, curfews and preemptive arrests as it seeks to crack down on the 14-month-old insurgency that has dogged Iraq since Saddam Hussein's regime was toppled in April 2003. Insurgents made good on their threats to try to assassinate the hawkish Allawi Wednesday morning as projectiles slammed into his neighborhood. Three devices exploded near Allawi's residence and offices, wounding at least five people, police said, while several explosions rocked Baghdad, as the government prepared to read off its tough new measures to the public. One projectile struck a house about 20 metres (yards) from Allawi's political party the Iraqi National Accord and his residence, which are about 500 metres away from the heavily fortified Green Zone, a polceman said. Allawi, who has links with the CIA, was the driving force behind new emergency security measures, including wide-ranging powers to impose curfews and arrest suspects. The sound of gunfire also reverberated in the area around US and Iraqi military bases in the old Al-Muthanna airbase not far from Haifa street in southwestern Baghdad. As fighting broke out in Baghdad, Allawi had already signed "the national safety law", an official said yesterday, and it was to be unveiled to the publice at 1:00 pm, an official said. The government is also expected to announce an amnesty policy for those insurgents not directly involved in pulling the triggers in attacks. The government is banking that an amnesty for low-level insurgents will drive a wedge isolating hardcore members of the old regime and suspected foreign fighters from the general population. The push for tough security laws gained momentum in June as insurgents escalated their attacks after Iraq's caretaker government was named at the beginning of the month. While the US-led multinational forces were already able to employ hard measures -- such as lengthy detentions and raiding homes without warrants -- the new law will give the government a legal shield as it deploys police and national guard to beat the dogged insurgency.
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US Blackhawk helicopter hovers over a smoke stack coming out of central Baghdad during an ongoing battle between US and Iraqi armed forces against insurgents yesterday. A new security law grants Iraq's prime minister the right to declare emergencies, issue arrest warrants, ban political groups, restrict movement of foreigners, bar demonstrations, imposed curfews, open mail and tap telephones. PHOTO: AFP |
