Iraqi demonstrators issue rallying cry to Sunnis

Demonstrators in Samarra, a predominantly Sunni town north of Baghdad, called on Thursday for Sunnis to take a stand against militant attacks, saying the militias perpetrating the violence did not have the support of all members of the Muslim denomination. Iraq has been hit by a wave of demonstrations since since late December, with protesters accusing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki of mistreating the Sunni community. The protesters gathered in Samarra’s al-Haq square said they strongly rejected the shedding of Iraqi blood. Sheikh Muhammad Taha Al-Hamdoun, a spokesperson for six provinces in Iraq, said that the demonstrations were peaceful, and that he rejected any attempt to smear the protests. He said the demonstrations had not yet gained the support of all Sunnis in Iraq and emphasised the need to gain the support of different factions. The Sheikh urged the country’s intellectuals to join the demonstrations.  The demonstrators condemned the criminal actions carried out by militant groups and accused the Iraqi government of supporting the militias. They called on Iraqi Sunnis to form a special force to protect themselves. The protesters said they would continue to demonstrate until their demands were met. Maliki said the government has not formed any committees to negotiate with the demonstrators. The UN mission in Iraq has warned that the country is witnessing increasing violence, calling on politicians to initiate serious dialogue to overcome the current crisis.