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Church Attacks Linked to Saddam Trial, West Iraq Operations

Posted on: Sunday, 29 January 2006, 18:00 CST

Text of live telephone interview with Muhammad al-Askari, spokesman for the Iraqi Defence Ministry; by Al-Jazeera anchorman Jamal Rayyan in the Doha studios, carried by Qatari Al-Jazeera satellite TV on 29 January

[Rayyan] Muhammad al-Askari, spokesman for the Iraqi Defence Ministry, joins us from Baghdad. Mr Al-Askari, it is clear that the bombings [near churches in Iraq] were coordinated. Is there an explanation for this?

[Al-Askari] Certainly, there are many justifications available for the terrorist armed men who carried out these bombings. Add to this what appeared in your report regarding the link [between the bombings] and the Danish newspapers or trying President Saddam Husayn today.

However, I think that these are typical reactions following any military operation especially since Operation Koa Canyon [Wadi al- Jundi] ended yesterday. Certainly, these gunmen were in certain areas and were hampered in certain areas. As a result, these armed groups start to spread [following the end of the military operations] and show deliberate reactions in order to show up again at the scene and convey a clear message that these operations are useless, and that they are still effective, working in the field and selecting targets as they wish.

[Rayyan] Do you want to draw a link between what the Danish newspapers published and the targeting of churches in Iraq? Does this coincide with that or is it an angry reaction by some segments of the Iraqi people?

[Al-Askari] Definitely, they [the armed men] may justify this. The operations, as you notice in your report and newscast, targeted churches and innocent citizens. I do not think that these operations are true or logical reactions. However, do not forget that this is an ongoing battle in Iraq between armed men and terrorist sides on the one hand and the legitimacy represented by the government and the Iraqi people on the other. Consequently, any side will not hesitate for a moment if it is able to seize the opportunity to assault the other side or to expand the circle. I think that this is an exploitation of these circumstances, and that these justifications may be linked to the propaganda campaign launched against the prophet, peace and prayers be upon him.

The bombings may also be connected to the trial of Saddam, or as a reaction to the operations carried out in the western areas of Iraq, or other reasons.

However, the firm thing is the fact that violence exists, and that targeting civilians has become semi-ordinary phenomenon by armed men.

[Rayyan] Muhammad al-Askari, spokesman for the Iraqi Defence Ministry, thank you.

Source: BBC Monitoring Middle East

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