Sunnis Want Halt in Iraq Military Actions

"BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - Sunni Arab politicians stepped up demands Sunday for an end to U.S. and Iraqi military operations, claiming they threaten Sunni participation in next month's elections - a key U.S. goal. The U.S. command announced the deaths of three more American troops.

Meanwhile, some 1,100 Iraqi lawyers said they withdrew from Saddam Hussein's defense team over the slayings of two colleagues representing co-defendants of the ousted leader. The main attorneys for Saddam and his seven co-defendants had already threatened to boycott the next trial session Nov. 28.

U.S. commanders have said offensives, especially those in the western province of Anbar near the Syrian border, are aimed at encouraging Sunni Arabs to vote in the Dec. 15 parliamentary elections without fear of intimidation by insurgents opposed to the political process.

However, several major Sunni Arab political groups insisted Sunday that such operations risk keeping Sunni turnout low because civilians are displaced by the fighting or they will be too frightened to venture out to the polls."
MyWay