U.S. troops raid Sunni clerics' Iraq office
08 Jan 2006 13:58:03 GMT

Source: Reuters

(Updates throughout with new quotes, detail)

By Aseel Kami

BAGHDAD, Jan 8 (Reuters) - U.S. troops, some in helicopters, launched a pre-dawn raid on Sunday on the headquarters of the influential Sunni Arab Muslim Clerics' Association and detained six people in what they said was an anti-terrorist operation.

An association spokesman slammed the raid as a "crime" to punish his group for its stand toward the U.S.-led occupation.

Witnesses said American soldiers slid down ropes from helicopters as troops on the ground simultaneously burst into the Umm al-Qora mosque complex in western Baghdad at 3 a.m. (0000 GMT), blowing doors off hinges and ransacking offices.

U.S. military spokesman Lieutenant-Colonel Barry Johnson said they had been reacting to a tip-off of "substantial terrorist-related activity" in the complex.

Reuters Television footage showed spent shotgun shells and special explosive charges used to blow out door locks lying on the ground. Many office doors showed signs of forced entry.

In one room, cupboards used to store the shoes of those attending prayers had what appeared to be Christian crosses scrawled on them. Other footage showed papers strewn on office floors and windows smashed.

An association official who did not want to be named said U.S. soldiers had disarmed about 20 Iraqi guards stationed in the complex and confiscated their weapons.

Johnson said the raid had been deliberately timed to minimise risk to any civilians and that the soldiers involved in the operation had respected the fact they were in a place of worship. He rejected as "unbelievable" any suggestion they may have been responsible for the crosses.
"During the search six men were detained for further questioning to determine their knowledge or involvement in terrorist activity," he said.

He declined to say if they were still being held in custody or had since been released.

Muthana Harith al-Dhari, the head of the association's media department, said among those detained were Sheikh Unis al-Ugaidi, a member of the association and a number of employees and guards.

"These forces violated the sanctity of the mosque, drawing crosses on some of its walls, raiding some of the association departments ... breaking the doors with guns, spoiling the offices and stealing some property," he told a news conference.
"The association believes this crime was committed to provoke and punish it for its attitude towards the occupation," he said.

The Muslim Clerics' Association is an influential group of Sunni scholars who hold sway over many Sunnis, especially in western Anbar province, heartland of the insurgency. Its leaders have called on U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq and boycotted the Dec. 15 parliamentary election.

About 20 percent of Iraq's population is Sunni Arabs. (Additional reporting by Ross Colvin)