This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6993211.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Iraqi insurgents kill key US ally Iraqi insurgents kill key US ally
(about 2 hours later)
A key Sunni ally of the US and Iraqi governments has been killed in a bomb attack in the city of Ramadi, Iraqi police and media say.A key Sunni ally of the US and Iraqi governments has been killed in a bomb attack in the city of Ramadi, Iraqi police and media say.
Abdul Sattar Abu Risha was the leader of an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that rejected al-Qaeda because of its methods and worked with the US. Abdul Sattar Abu Risha led what was known as the "Anbar Awakening", an alliance of Sunni Arab tribes that rose up against al-Qaeda in Iraq.
He was killed in a bomb attack near his home in Iraq's western Anbar province. The movement helped reduce violence dramatically and was hailed by the US as an example for the rest of Iraq.
Abu Risha was among a group of tribal leaders who met President George W Bush during his visit to Iraq last week. President George Bush met and endorsed him during a visit to Iraq last week.
"The sheikh's car was totally destroyed by the explosion. Abu Risha was killed and two of his bodyguards were seriously wounded," Ramadi police officer Ahmed Mahmoud al-Alwani told Reuters. Abu Risha's assassination will be a severe blow to the "Awakening" in Anbar province, says the BBC's Hugh Sykes in Baghdad.
Later it was reported that both bodyguards had died. It may undermine the new movement against al-Qaeda in Iraq, he says, or it could strengthen resolve in Anbar to resist the insurgents, who are regarded by an increasing number of people there as unwelcome invaders.
Abu Risha was the leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, also known as the Anbar Awakening, an alliance of clans which sided with US forces and the Iraqi government in order to try to reclaim Anbar province from al-Qaeda. This is a spontaneous popular uprising against al-Qaeda, because, as you know, al-Qaeda killed our people Abdul Sattar Abu Risha class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6958393.stm">US recruits Sunni volunteers
Abu Risha was killed, along with two bodyguards, by a roadside bomb planted near his home in Ramadi, the capital of Iraq's western Anbar province.
He was 41, according to the Pentagon.
"The sheikh's car was totally destroyed by the explosion," Ramadi police officer Ahmed Mahmoud al-Alwani told Reuters.
It has been reported that he was the number one target of al-Qaeda in Iraq, that several attempts had previously been made on his life, and that his father and at least one of his brothers were killed by insurgents.
'Model' for Iraq'Model' for Iraq
Abu Risha was the leader of the Anbar Salvation Council, also known as the Anbar Awakening, an alliance of clans which sided with US forces and the Iraqi government in order to try to reclaim Anbar province from al-Qaeda.
The US has been trying to organise Sunni tribes against the insurgent group.The US has been trying to organise Sunni tribes against the insurgent group.
It held up Abu Risha and his tribal fellows as a success story and a model for other parts of Iraq, saying they inflicted considerable losses and setbacks on al-Qaeda.It held up Abu Risha and his tribal fellows as a success story and a model for other parts of Iraq, saying they inflicted considerable losses and setbacks on al-Qaeda.
Bush hails Anbar success
The province was once controlled by insurgents, and was where they declared an "Islamic State of Iraq".
It has been one of the deadliest parts of Iraq for US troops.
Only on Monday, in his testimony to Congress, the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, said Anbar province showed how Iraq could throw off its violence and move forward.Only on Monday, in his testimony to Congress, the top US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, said Anbar province showed how Iraq could throw off its violence and move forward.
"A year ago the province was assessed 'lost' politically," he said."A year ago the province was assessed 'lost' politically," he said.
"Today, it is a model of what happens when local leaders and citizens decide to oppose al-Qaeda and reject its Taleban-like ideology.""Today, it is a model of what happens when local leaders and citizens decide to oppose al-Qaeda and reject its Taleban-like ideology."
He said the number of attacks had fallen from 1,350 in the month of October last year to little more than 200 last month.He said the number of attacks had fallen from 1,350 in the month of October last year to little more than 200 last month.
Abu Risha expressed the same sentiment only last week, saying: "I wish we could do in all the provinces of Iraq what we did in Anbar, which is that the people and the government come together."Abu Risha expressed the same sentiment only last week, saying: "I wish we could do in all the provinces of Iraq what we did in Anbar, which is that the people and the government come together."
Later, President Bush is expected to announce that the US may pull some 30,000 US troops out of Iraq by the middle of next year - a move made possible partly by the progress in pacifying Anbar.Later, President Bush is expected to announce that the US may pull some 30,000 US troops out of Iraq by the middle of next year - a move made possible partly by the progress in pacifying Anbar.