Spiking violence strains sectarian ties in Iraqi province charlotteobserver.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from charlotteobserver.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Iraqi special forces coming from the capital Baghdad have started enforcing the law in the province of Diyala (60 km northeast of Baghdad), in implementation of orders by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani. The forces deployed in various regions of the province in search of wanted individuals who carried out recent assassinations of citizens, and medical and scientific figures. Meanwhile, the Sheikh of Bani Tamim tribes Mustafa al-Tamimi granted the government 10 days to arrest the perpetrators.
While the history of al-Qaeda in Iraq and the Islamic State continue to haunt Iraq, the start of the annual Shiite religious mourning celebration was largely uneventful though Diyala province remains problematic.