More arrest in murder of Anbar Sheik

Reuters:

Eleven Iraqi suspects have been arrested for involvement in the killing of a Sunni Arab tribal leader who helped push al Qaeda fighters from much of Anbar province, his brother said.

Abdul Sattar Abu Risha, head of the Anbar Salvation Council alliance of Sunni tribes opposed to al Qaeda, was killed in a September 13 bomb attack shortly after a public meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush.

Ahmed Abu Risha, who succeeded him last week, said the attackers had been helped by one of Abu Risha's own guards.

"Al Qaeda have been planning to do that for years. They had carried out 11 suicide attacks against the sheikh but he survived," Ahmed Abu Risha told Reuters over the weekend.

He said "a member of Abdul Sattar's security guards facilitated the entrance of the suicide bomber and we later arrested a cell of 11 al Qaeda members who planned the attack."

"They are all Iraqis from the city of Ramadi," he said.

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I suspect the al Qaeda leader arrested last week gave up his associates including the inside guy who facilitated the murder. The quick arrests in this case is also bad news for al Qaeda which promised future murders of people who resisted their evil plans and weird religious beliefs. It should also give some sense of justice to the members of his tribe who continue support the efforts he set in motion.