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Zarqawi declares fierce war on iraqi democracy { January 23 2005 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30447-2005Jan23.htmlhttp://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30447-2005Jan23.html
Zarqawi Declares 'Fierce War' on Iraqi Democracy
Iraq's Most Feared Terrorist Threatens to Disrupt Elections
By Jackie Spinner and Bassam Sebti
Washington Post Foreign Service
Sunday, January 23, 2005; 4:07 PM
BAGHDAD, Jan. 23 -- Iraq's most feared terrorist declared a "fierce war" on democracy Sunday and repeated an earlier threat to disrupt historic national elections scheduled for a week from today.
Abu Musab Zarqawi, the Jordanian-born militant whose al Qaeda-linked group has claimed responsibility for some of the most deadly insurgent attacks in postwar Iraq, called candidates running in the Jan. 30 elections "demi-idols" and the people who plan to vote for them "infidels," according to a Web site that broadcast a speech reportedly made by Zarqawi.
"We have declared a fierce war on this evil principle of democracy and those who follow this wrong ideology," said the speaker, who identified himself as Zarqawi. "Anyone who tries to help set up this system is part of it."
Zarqawi, in an apparent attempt to scare people away from the polls, said the United States has rigged the election to favor Iraq's majority Muslim Shiite population, which was persecuted under deposed leader Saddam Hussein. Zarqawi accused the Shiites of selling out to the Americans.
"Oh people of Iraq, where is your honor? Have you accepted oppression of the crusader harlots . . . and the rejectionist pigs?" he said in the Web broadcast.
Iraq has been the scene of almost daily violence in the lead-up to the elections, the country's first democratic vote in nearly half a century.
Both American and Iraqi officials have warned of an increase in attacks around the election period and have implemented strict security measures aimed at preventing violence on Election Day, which is next Sunday . The country will be virtually locked down for a three-day period beginning Saturday . Residents will be prohibited from driving on Election Day or traveling between provinces. No weapons will be allowed on the streets, and the country's borders will close, as will its airports. Voters also will be banned from congregating near polling centers or checkpoints.
"These security measures are being established and enforced in order to deter terrorist attacks on the Iraqi people and ensure free and fair elections will occur without intimidation or fear of harm," the U.S.-backed interim government said in announcing the measures on Sunday . "The Iraqi government is doing everything possible to provide a secure environment on Election Day. The Iraqi government will not allow the small amount of criminals and traitors to deter the will of the Iraqi people to build a better future for their families."
In the meantime, the attacks have continued, nearly unabated, even during the three-day Eid al-Adha celebration that ended on Sunday , marking the "feast of the sacrifice," the most important Muslim holiday.
A U.S. Army soldiers was killed while on patrol in Mosul, the military said.
And in the village of Fataha in northern Iraq, a bomb exploded late Saturday night near an oil pipeline, causing a giant fireball that witnesses said floated down the banks of the Tigris River.
The floating fireball reached the villages of Albuo Joarie, Shweesh, Alshaat and Jaissat.
It burned trees and caused panicking villagers to escape with their valuables. Most of them lived in mud huts.
"I have lost my 50 cows, all burned and died in the fire," said a man who gave his name as Abu Saadiea. "I am not the only on who has lost his cattle. All the families who have animals close the bank of the river died also," he added. Some of the families went to relatives in Baiji or set up tents just outside the city.
In a separate incident in Baqubah, an Iraqi intelligence officer was ambushed and killed, a doctor said. Muwthana Salman, 38 was killed around 5 p.m. in the center of the city, said Dr. Ahmed Fouad, a medical examiner at Baqubah General Hospital.
Five civilians also were killed Sunday on a main street in the city when gunmen in a van opened fire on a row of liquor dealers who plied their trade in the open , witnesses said. The men had been threatened and warned to leave the area many times, said Thalib Doulmi, the brother of one of the deceased. "They were shooting at them from everywhere," he said.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military said Iraqi police arrested one of the interim government's top insurgent suspects on Saturday. The man and two others were taken into custody, the military said in a statement.
U.S. soldiers had been trying to catch the unnamed man for almost a year, the military said.
"We are gradually picking away at the terrorist infrastructure," said Maj. Web Wright, a spokesman for the Army's 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division. " Everyday we get more and more tips from the Iraqi people who are standing up and identifying these murderers and thugs."
In another development, Iraqi officials said a water plant that had been bombed in an insurgent attack on Jan. 15 has been repaired, restoring water to tens of thousands of Baghdad residents .
Much of the city also remains without power for 20 hours a day.
But all of these woes seemed to matter little to the thousands of Baghdad residents who flocked to the Al-Zawraa Park and Zoo on Sunday , in an unusually festive scene for a populace that has learned to avoid crowds and places where insurgent bombs could find them.
The large, central park, closed for renovations since before the the U.S.-led war in March 2003, had been one of the centers of Baghdad's social life, attracting families, children and young lovers. It reopened for the first time this weekend.
Mohammed Srahan, 45, a teacher from the Baladiyat neighborhood in Baghdad, brought his family to the park because he felt "bad," he said.
"I yearn for the old days, and I also feel bad for my children." Srahan said. "We are under occupation, and this will never end. I want my children to be happy because there is no electricity at the house. What is the point of sitting home?"
Srahan said he was not deterred by the threat of violence.
"I didn't hesitate at all," he said. "Frankly, I am not very happy, but I will be happy when the occupiers leave the country and when a true Iraqi leaderships governs Iraq--a true one, not like that one that is governing us now and not like the one coming in. We don't know who are the candidates and what are their aims."
His wife, who gave her name as Um Muthana, said the family was bored sitting at home and only talking about electricity, water and explosions.
"Although, I admit, I feel afraid to go out, I think my children need to have some fun as we had before," she said. "They just go to school and that is it. Today, we have some fun with our children."
Noor, the couple's 6-year-old daughter, said she was happy. "I am not afraid of the criminals," she said. "They are cowards, and they cannot kill me."
Inside the park, families, groups of teen-agers and children stood in long lines to take a turn down long slides and ride on a large carousel . A band wandered through the park singing traditional Iraqi songs. A group of young men gathered around it, dancing and singing to the lyrics of a song about Fallujah, the restive city west of Baghdad that American and Iraqi forces stormed in early November to retake it from insurgents.
The crowd sang, "Welcome, welcome to the heroes of Fallujah."
Muhanned Fadhil, 55, a trader who lives in Sadr City, the Shiite slum in the capital, said he could not believe the park had reopened. "My family and my children are very happy," he said. "The people should be united and not be afraid. We were afraid for 35 years under the oppression of Saddam, and today is our chance."
Fadhil said if people sit in their homes too afraid to go out, "we will give the criminals the chance to bring destruction to the country, and we will lose the freedom and the will to achieve democracy."
Special correspondents Naseer Nouri and Sahar Nageeb in Baghdad, Salid Saif Aldin in Baiji and Hasan Shammeri in Baqubah contributed to this report.
© 2005 The Washington Post Company
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