BAGHDAD — Iraqi security forces backed by helicopters raided a Sunni protest camp before dawn Tuesday, prompting clashes that left at least 23 people dead in an escalation likely to fuel hostilities between the Shiite-led government and minority Sunnis that have been raging for months.
The fighting broke out in the former insurgent stronghold of Hawija, about 160 miles north of Baghdad. Like many predominantly Sunni communities, the town has seen anti-government rallies by protesters accusing the government of neglect and practicing a sectarian agenda. They also oppose Kurdish ambitions to annex nearby Kirkuk to the Kurds' three-province autonomous region.
Sectarian tensions have been intensifying in recent months, pressured by the Sunni protests that began in December and what officials fear is a strengthening of al-Qaida and other Sunni-backed militants. Hawija was the site of some of the fiercest fighting between U.S. and Iraqi forces who faced frequent deadly attacks by al-Qaida in Iraq and other insurgents. That raises fears the growing anger among Sunnis could lead to a new round of violence.
As news of Tuesday's raid spread, calls went out through mosque loudspeakers in Fallujah, west of the capital, urging residents to protest in solidarity with fellow Sunnis in Hawija. About 1,000 protesters took to the streets in the western city, where anger at the government is particularly strong. Some chanted "War, war," as security forces fanned out in the streets.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki swiftly announced the formation of a special ministerial committee to investigate what happened in Hawija, underscoring the government's concern over the incident.
There were conflicting reports about the number of casualties.
Iraq's Defense Ministry put the death toll at 23, saying that included an army officer, two soldiers and 20 "militants who were using the demonstration as a safe haven." Another nine members of the military were wounded, the ministry said in a statement. It said the militants killed were members of al-Qaida and Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath Party.
Sheik Abdullah Sami al-Asi, a Sunni provincial official from Hawija, said the fighting began early in the morning when security forces entered the protest area and tried to make arrests. He said scores of people were wounded or killed.