Sunni Chiefs Killed in Iraq Suicide Bomb

5 leaders in fight against al-Qaeda in Diyala province dead in blast
By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 10, 2007 5:44 AM CST
Sunni Chiefs Killed in Iraq Suicide Bomb
Relatives grieve over the body of Mohammed Abdul Amir, 27, at a morgue in Baqouba, capital of Iraq's troubled Diyala province, 60 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Baghdad, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. Abdul Amir was killed Saturday by unknown gunmen in central Baqouba. (AP Photo)   (Associated Press)

A suicide bomber detonated his vest in a meeting yesterday of anti-al-Qaeda Sunni chiefs, killing five leaders in the battle to drive al-Qaeda from Diyala province, in central Iraq. The bomb went off in the home of Sheikh Faez al-Obeidi, 30 miles north of Baghdad; killed were the sheikh and four of his relatives, the BBC reports. Ten others were wounded in the attack.

Those killed were members of the Diyala Salvation Council, a group opposing local al-Qaeda activities. Such groups have sprung up throughout Iraq since a group of tribal leaders successfully drove al-Qaeda out of its former stronghold in Anbar province. Diyala province, site of yesterday's attack, has since become a key battleground. (More Iraq stories.)

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