Reply #249: sounds like the Iraqi's are generally very happy about Zarqawi's death

[Snivi Yllom]

a sample:

http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=worldNews&storyID=2006-06-08T135606Z_01_L08202024_RTRUKOC_0_US-IRAQ-ZARQAWI-REACTION.xml&WTmodLoc=NewsArt-L3-International+NewsNews-3

Iraqis meet Zarqawi's death with joy, fear
Thu Jun 8, 2006 9:09am ET

By Ibon Villelabeitia

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - A Baghdad baker gave out free bread and a school teacher in rebellious Falluja expressed hope the killing of al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi would halt Iraq's "rivers of blood".

But other Iraqis lamented the death of Zarqawi in a U.S. air raid north of Baghdad as a great loss in the fight against American occupiers and some feared it would prompt reprisals.

"I hope his death will be a new page for Iraq," said baker Zuhair Yassin, 25. "He can burn in hell."

Isa Younis, a 66-year-old retired teacher, said: "I thank God and the Iraqi government for this huge gift. I don't know how I'm going to celebrate but I know that this is the happiest day of my life."

"I'm overjoyed. God willing this will be the end of all terrorists. I hope Iraq can now begin to stabilize now this pig is dead," said Qeysar Ahmed, a Baghdad shop owner as he watched Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki make the announcement in a televised news conference accompanied by U.S. officials.

The United States blamed Zarqawi, who had a $25 million U.S. bounty on his head, for the beheading of foreign captives and the death of hundreds in suicide bombings. His campaign is also believed to have played a major role in inflaming Sunni-Shi'ite tensions in the country.

But Dya'a Hassan, a 25-year old worker from Ramadi, capital of the Sunni rebel stronghold of Anbar province, said the death of Zarqawi was a blow to the resistance against invaders.

"I think Zarqawi's death is a big loss for Iraq because he made the Americans bow to the ground. The Americans lost many troops because of Zarqawi and his followers," he said.

In Baghdad, Ahmed Jabbar said in the central commercial district that Zarqawi's death would have little effect other than giving a boost to Maliki, who took office on May 20.

Maliki has promised to rein in violence which ends in dozens of bodies being dumped every day in Baghdad and has forced tens of thousands of Iraqis to flee their homes.

"I'm extremely happy he is dead because he was the world's worst criminal but I doubt this will change much in the present other than a morale boost," Jabbar said.


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and it is and will be big news in the Arab world.............

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2006-06-08-arab-media_x.htm

After al-Maliki's news conference, the stations showed clips from al-Zarqawi's last appearance in a videotape aimed at rallying supporters. They also hosted analysts and experts to discuss the implications of al-Zarqawi's death.

"This is the most important news not only in the past few weeks but also for the next few weeks," said Nabil al-Khatib, executive editor of the Dubai-based satellite Al-Arabiya TV.

"Al-Zarqawi has been a key player not only in Iraq but also in the whole region. Therefore, his absence will have an impact on the course of political developments," he told The Associated Press.