Al-Qaida defector’s arrest triggers gunfight in Iraq

March 29, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

BAGHDAD (AP) — A gunfight erupted Saturday in central Baghdad after the local leader of a Sunni group that broke with al-Qaida was arrested for his alleged role in terrorist acts, Iraqi officials said.

Adil al-Mashhadani, the head of an Awakening Council group, was detained Saturday along with an aide after a warrant was issued for his arrest, Iraqi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi said.

The shooting started after Iraqi army and police units served the warrant in Fadhil, a Sunni enclave on the east bank of the Tigris River that was run by al-Qaida until U.S. and Iraqi soldiers regained control in 2007.

Four people — three civilians and a policeman — were killed, and 10 people were wounded in the shooting, according to police and hospital officials. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not supposed to release information to media.

How the Shiite-led government deals with the Sunni security volunteers, known variously as Awakening Councils or Sons of Iraq, is widely seen as a test of its ability to win the loyalty of disaffected Sunnis — an essential step in forging a lasting peace in Iraq.

It was unclear whether the allegations against al-Mashhadani were based on his purported activities before the Sunni revolt against al-Qaida, during which thousands of Sunnis switched sides.

A U.S. military spokesman, Col. Bill Buckner, confirmed the arrest and said the move was not directed at the Awakening Council.

Fadhil resident Hazim Hussein said about a dozen vehicles loaded with police special commandos entered the neighborhood about 2:30 p.m. and headed toward al-Mashhadani’s home.