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Gunmen kill Sunnis who pushed democracy
3 executed in Mosul after hanging posters urging people to vote
Updated: 11:17 a.m. ET Aug. 19, 2005
MOSUL, Iraq - Gunmen seized three Sunni Arabs hanging posters urging people to vote in the constitutional referendum, drove them to a mosque and shot them dead Friday, an official of their political party and witnesses said.
The three, members of Iraq's largest Sunni Arab party, were kidnapped early Friday in the city's southern neighborhood of New Mosul, said Nouredine al-Hayali of the Iraqi Islamic Party. They were later shot dead in the Mosul's northern neighborhood of Nour.
Al-Hayali said the three were hanging posters on the walls urging people to register their names at polling centers to be able to take part in the Oct. 15 referendum on the country's new constitution that is currently being drafted.
Witnesses said masked gunmen blocked a major road in front of Dhi al-Nourein Mosque, then brought the three out of cars. They forced them to stand against a wall, sprayed them with gunfire and fled. The bodies were left behind.
The Iraqi Islamic Party has been urging Sunni Muslims in recent weeks to register to vote in an October referendum on the new constitution and to take part in general elections planned for Dec. 15. Many Sunni Muslims boycotted the Jan. 30 elections following threats by insurgents and calls by clerics not to do so.
Also Friday, members of the group were handing over fliers urging people to register before a Sept. 1 deadline. "The constitution will specify the future of Iraq," one of the fliers read. "Either 'yes' or 'no' to the constitution depending on how close or far it is from our Islamic and National constants."
Insurgents have threatened people against voting in the two planned elections. On Thursday, masked gunmen burst into the Sunni grand mosque in the tense city of Ramadi as religious, political, and tribal leaders met to discuss possible Sunni participation in the constitutional process.
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3 executed in Mosul after hanging posters urging people to vote
Updated: 11:17 a.m. ET Aug. 19, 2005
MOSUL, Iraq - Gunmen seized three Sunni Arabs hanging posters urging people to vote in the constitutional referendum, drove them to a mosque and shot them dead Friday, an official of their political party and witnesses said.
The three, members of Iraq's largest Sunni Arab party, were kidnapped early Friday in the city's southern neighborhood of New Mosul, said Nouredine al-Hayali of the Iraqi Islamic Party. They were later shot dead in the Mosul's northern neighborhood of Nour.
Al-Hayali said the three were hanging posters on the walls urging people to register their names at polling centers to be able to take part in the Oct. 15 referendum on the country's new constitution that is currently being drafted.
Witnesses said masked gunmen blocked a major road in front of Dhi al-Nourein Mosque, then brought the three out of cars. They forced them to stand against a wall, sprayed them with gunfire and fled. The bodies were left behind.
The Iraqi Islamic Party has been urging Sunni Muslims in recent weeks to register to vote in an October referendum on the new constitution and to take part in general elections planned for Dec. 15. Many Sunni Muslims boycotted the Jan. 30 elections following threats by insurgents and calls by clerics not to do so.
Also Friday, members of the group were handing over fliers urging people to register before a Sept. 1 deadline. "The constitution will specify the future of Iraq," one of the fliers read. "Either 'yes' or 'no' to the constitution depending on how close or far it is from our Islamic and National constants."
Insurgents have threatened people against voting in the two planned elections. On Thursday, masked gunmen burst into the Sunni grand mosque in the tense city of Ramadi as religious, political, and tribal leaders met to discuss possible Sunni participation in the constitutional process.
Read story