Killing of Sunni cleric fuels tensions in Iraq

http://www.reuters.com/locales/newsArticle.jsp;:404ca7f2:d2b9963d6c71c0c6?type=worldNews&locale=en_IN&storyID=4520572

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Sunni Muslim cleric Shiekh Ali Zahabi was walking to evening prayers in Baghdad when gunmen in a car shot him dead -- the latest in a string of attacks which some Iraqis say are aimed at igniting a sectarian war.

"We were walking and a BMW stopped and fired at least five shots at Sheikh Ali's chest. They targeted him. They didn't say a word," said Mohammad Obedi, a Sunni worshipper who was walking with the cleric on Sunday evening when he was killed.

The killing, which comes less than a week after bomb attacks on Shi'ites in Baghdad and Kerbala killed at least 181 people, has fuelled concerns that religious extremists are targeting clerics in a bid to destabilise Iraq.

At least two dozen senior Sunni and Shi'ite clerics have been killed in Iraq since the fall of Saddam Hussein.

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Like many Iraqis, he said U.S.-led occupying troops were trying to stir up strife in the country.

...more and worth going to for the final sentence in this article...

Hi UIA! I will try and find another to post....

Reuters links are often unable to properly hyperlink without help.

this should work

It worked! Here is the last sentence....

<"The gangs that target clerics are mercenaries paid for their crimes. The occupiers will fail in this evil conspiracy to sow strife," he said.>