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Iraq

Iraqi Sunni party says rebels intensify violence

By Suleiman al-Khalidi
AMMAN, Dec 21 (Reuters) - An Iraqi Sunni leader said on Wednesday insurgents would intensify attacks to drive out U.S. troops and violence would worsen if a Shi'ite-led government returned 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, said a victory for ruling Shi'ite 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 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 on Tuesday indicated the ruling Shi'ite 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," Gaood, 37, a member of the influential Dulaimi tribe, told Reuters in an interview in Amman.

Whatever course the U.S.-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, 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 Dec.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 U.S. occupation, Gaood said.

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

"Those leading the resistance are the generals of the Iraqi army who are well trained," Gaood said.

He said only an American commitment to begin a phased withdrawal could bring a scaling down of insurgent attacks and eventual stability.

"We know a withdrawal of these 150,000 American troops at once is not possible. I can say calm will only come with the start of a phased withdrawal."