Iraq’s main Sunni party suspends contacts with US

Iraq’s largest Sunni party said Saturday it has suspended official contacts with American military personnel and civilians after the killing of a man near Fallujah.

The Iraqi Islamic Party accused the raid of having a “hidden political motive” in an indication of rising tensions in Anbar province ahead of provincial elections, due to be held by the end of January.

The U.S. military said U.S.-backed Iraqi soldiers arrested a wanted insurgent leader suspected of training roadside bomb cells in an operation Friday that killed an armed man who opened fire on the troops.

The IIP alleged a senior member of the party was killed in his bed and five others were arrested during the raid in the Halabsa area on the outskirts of the former insurgent stronghold.

The IIP accused the troops of targeting party members after its success in forging tribal alliances with other political blocs. It also demanded assurance those responsible would be punished, compensation for the victims and the release of the five detainees.

Brief by The Associated Press