‘Abuse by all sides’ in Iraq’s Anbar

“The upsurge in violence began on 30 December, when security forces cleared a year-old Sunni protest camp.

The fighting spread to Falluja, and militants moved in and seized control of the city and parts of Ramadi.

Iraq’s minority Sunni Arab community has long complained that it is being marginalised by Prime Minister Nouri Maliki’s Shia-led government and unfairly targeted by the security forces.

Correspondents say the prime minister’s drive to restore control of Falluja and Ramadi is being seen by many Sunnis as an attempt at domination and oppression, and is taking Iraq back to the brink of a sectarian civil war.”