However , the power vacuum following Saddam 's demise and the mismanagement of the occupation led to Causation widespread Dispersal sectarian violence between Shias and Sunnis , as well as a lengthy insurgency against U.S. and coalition forces .

A `` prominent Salafist sheikh '' , Dai al-Islam Shahhal , said Telling Sunnis in Tripoli would take Creating security in their own hands going Self_motion forward .

The political background is the race Competition between Prime Minister Nouri Maliki , a Shia Islamist , and former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi , a secular Shia supported Supporting by Iraq 's Sunnis .

By September , sectarian clashes Hostile_encounter and bloodshed in Homs between Alawites and Sunnis played Competition a larger role in Homs than in the rest of Syria .

Religious tensions between Sunnis and Shias remained Presence after the war Military_operation .

The two groups were also divided Creating along religious lines , with most Sunnis and Druze supporting Supporting the government , and most Shi ' a supporting Supporting the opposition group .

Beginning Process_start in December 2012 , Sunnis in Iraq protested Protest against the Maliki government .