Iraq is teetering on the brink of a full-scale Sunni Arab rebellion in its western Anbar province, while oil capacity, concentrated in the Shiitedominated south, and exports are expected to rise sharply this year. Sectarian violence in parts of Iraq has risen to levels seen during the civil strife of 2006-07. Armed clashes raged between the Iraqi army and al-Qaidaaffiliated militiamen in Ramadi and Fallujah in Anbar province on 2 January. Sunni tribesmen joined the fighting on both sides. Clashes broke out after the government forcibly broke up a Sunni protest camp in Ramadi on 30 December, having arrested Sunni parliamentarian Ahmad al-Alwani on 29 December. Government forces wounded the legislator and killed his brother and three bodyguards.
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