11.   But militant Sunni groups accuse Iran, a mostly Shiite Muslim country, of backing their Shiite rivals.

12.   Defeated were one incumbent each from the Sunni fundamentalist Habashi group, the Iranian-backed Shiite Hezbollah and the Sunni Islamic Group.

13.   Earlier Wednesday, two men armed with automatic rifles shot and killed two other activists with the militant Sunni group.

14.   Halabi was head of the Association of Islamic Philanthropic Projects, a Sunni fundamentalist group.

15.   He belonged to a militant Sunni group that accuses Iran of arming and financing Shiite Muslim groups in Pakistan.

16.   He blamed the militant Sunni group known as the Guardians of the Friends of the Prophet.

17.   Hundreds belonging to the Shiite community demonstrated Friday in Bukker, chanting slogans against a rival Sunni group.

18.   His murder appeared to be the result of rivalry between his group and other Sunni groups for the senior position.

19.   Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, or Warriors of Jhangvi, was named for the founder of a Sunni militant group allegedly assassinated by a rival Shiite activist.

20.   Late Sunday, police arrested the leader and dozens of members of a radical Sunni group suspected of carrying out some of the most violent attacks.