From correspondents in Amman

December 21, 2005

AN Iraqi Sunni leader said insurgents will intensify attacks to drive out US troops and violence will worsen if a Shiite-led government returns to power, as seems likely.

Sheikh Majeed al-Gaood, head of the Wahaj al-Iraq party with strong ties to both Islamist and secular nationalist insurgents, today said a victory for ruling Shiite Islamists aligned to Iran in last week's parliamentary elections would bring bloodshed.

"The resistance will intensify and there will be a bloodbath and much blood will be spilt if Iran's agents gain power," said Sheikh Gaood whose group has a strong following among ex-army officers, Saddam Hussein loyalists and Arab Sunnis waging the insurgency.

"Not a single honest Iraqi nationalist would accept the Iranians or their agents ruling the country." Provisional results released yesterday indicated the ruling Shiite Alliance will remain dominant and possibly retain an absolute majority in parliament.

"Their victory will mean that Iran's arms will extend even further in Iraq," Sheikh Gaood, 37, a member of the influential Dulaimi tribe, said in an interview in Amman.






Whatever course the US-backed process took after the first elections since the war in which Sunni Arabs voted in strength, the insurgency would not yet abandon its arms, Sheikh Gaood said.

"The resistance will never give up its arms until the last American soldier leaves the country," he said.

Washington, keen to draw Sunni Arabs away from rebellion and into the political process, took heart from an apparently high Sunni Arab turnout in last weeks parliamentary election.

The level of violence has risen since the largely peaceful poll on December 15 after insurgents resumed attacks following a brief lull to allow Sunni voters to cast their ballots.

Insurgent backing of Sunni participation in the election was in support of a fair political process that could push for the end of US occupation, Sheikh Gaood said.

The insurgency led by Saddam's once powerful army officers was more effective than ever before, he said.