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BAGHDAD (AP) — The militant group that has taken control of some key cities in Iraq says it will start implementing its strict version of Islamic law in Mosul and other areas it now controls. It says women should stay in their homes for reasons of modesty, and that thieves will have their hands cut off. And it's telling Sunni members of the military and police to abandon their posts and "repent" -- or else "face only death."
Video that's been posted online today shows some residents of the Iraqi city of Tikrit (tih-KREET') celebrating the city's takeover by militants from the al-Qaida-inspired group.
The group is vowing to march on to Baghdad. But the capital doesn't appear to be in imminent danger of a similar assault. Baghdad would be a much harder target for the militants because of its large Shiite population. So far, fighters from the group have stuck to the Sunni heartland.
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146-a-11-(Kenneth Katzman, Middle East expert, Congressional Research Service, in AP interview)-"80 percent Shiites now"-Kenneth Katzman, a Middle East expert with the Congressional Research Service, says it will be very difficult for for the al-Qaida-inspired groupto march on Baghdad. (12 Jun 2014)
<<CUT *146 (06/12/14)££ 00:11 "80 percent Shiites now"
148-a-13-(Kenneth Katzman, Middle East expert, Congressional Research Service, in AP interview)-"lots of civilians"-Kenneth Katzman, a Middle East expert with the Congressional Research Service, says he doubts the U.S. will help Iraq combat the insurgency through air strikes because the al-Qaida-inspired group(ISIS) is now in densely-populated cities. (12 Jun 2014)
<<CUT *148 (06/12/14)££ 00:13 "lots of civilians"
APPHOTO BAG104: Iraqi army armored vehicle is seen burned on a street of the northern city of Mosul, Iraq, Thursday, June 12, 2014. The al-Qaida-inspired group that captured two key Sunni-dominated cities in Iraq this week vowed on Thursday to march on to Baghdad, raising fears about the Shiite-led government's ability to slow the assault following the insurgents' lightning gains. Fighters from ISIL on Wednesday took Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit, as soldiers and security forces abandoned their posts and yielded ground once controlled by U.S. forces. (AP Photo) (12 Jun 2014)
<<APPHOTO BAG104 (06/12/14)££
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