U.S.-allied Sunnis alarmed at Baghdad crackdown

BAGHDAD — Leaders of U.S.-backed Sunni paramilitary organizations said Monday they feared a crackdown against one of the their groups in Baghdad may be part of a purge of their ranks by the Shiite-led government before American troops pull out of Iraq.

U.S.-backed Iraqi soldiers regained control of a central Baghdad slum Sunday and disarmed a government-allied paramilitary group that launched a two-day uprising to protest the arrest of their leader. At least four people were killed and 21 wounded in the two days of fighting.

U.S. and Iraqi officials sought to downplay fears that the move in the Fadhil district of the capital was aimed at suppressing the Awakening Councils — Sunnis who turned against al-Qaida and now help Iraqi forces provide security in areas that were once in the grip of insurgents.

Promoting the councils, which the U.S. calls Sons of Iraq, are one of the main pillars of the American strategy for stabilizing Iraq.

U.S. commanders believe the Awakening Councils were the key to turning the tide against Sunni insurgents in 2007. There have been fears that some fighters may return to the insurgency if they feel threatened by the government.

That could undermine U.S. plans to remove all combat troops from Baghdad and other cities by the end of June and end the U.S. combat role in Iraq by September 2010.

A U.S. statement said the Fadhil leader, Adel al-Mashhadani, was arrested Saturday on a December 2008 warrant charging him with a number of offenses, including planting roadside bombs, extortion, robbery and links to al-Qaida.

An Iraqi spokesman also alleged he had formed a secret cell loyal to Saddam Hussein's disbanded political party.

Those allegations were received with skepticism by some Awakening Council leaders.

"I wonder why these accusations against Adel Al-Mashhadani were raised at this time when they depended on him before," said Sabbar al-Mashhadani, leader of a north Baghdad Awakening group and no relation to the commander in Fadhil.

"I think there are other motives by the same sides that put up obstacles" against the councils, he said — a veiled reference to Shiite religious parties that have never fully trusted the Sunni groups.

The leader of the Awakening Councils in Baqouba, Khaled Khodeir al-Luhaibi, said the crackdown in Fadhil was an "Iranian request."