Sunnis Claim to Have Killed Ohio Woman

The Washington Post reported January 19^th that a Sunni insurgent group in Iraq has claimed responsibility for the killing of an Ohio woman who had been working in Baghdad. The group, which is linked to the terrorist organization al-Qaeda, attacked a convoy in which the woman was traveling, according to a web site posting cited by the Post.

Andrea "Andi" Parhamovich of Perry, Ohio died January 17^th. Ms. Parhamovich was 28-years old and worked for the nonprofit National Democratic Institute, according to the Post report. A statement released by her employer confirmed the death of Ms. Parhamovich.

"There is no more sacred roll of honor than those who have given their last full measure in support of freedom," former U.S. Secretary of State and NDI chairman Madeleine K. Albright is quoted as saying. "Yesterday, in Iraq, Andrea Parhamovich and our security personnel were enshrined in that list. They were not the enemies of anyone in Iraq. They were there to help."

According to the Post, the authenticity of the responsibility claim could not be independently could not be verified. The report said the claim was signed by a spokesman for a group called the Islamic State in Iraq. The Post said the group had last year released an 18-minute audiotape tape claiming support from tribal sheiks and previously independent insurgent groups.

The reports said that Ms. Parhamovich is at least the fifth American civilian woman killed in Iraq since the 2003 invasion by the United States and other countries. According to the Post, Ms. Parhamovich graduated from Marietta College in Ohio and previously worked for the Massachusetts governor's office and the Massachusetts Department of Economic Development. Ms. Parhamovich initially went to Iraq with the International Republican Institute but left that organization to join NDI.

"An outgoing woman who made friends quickly, Andi wanted to use her education and skills as a communications specialist to help Iraqi political party leaders and parliamentarians develop strategies to reach out to voters and constituents," the institute's statement is reported to have said. According to the Post, the National Democratic Institute first started to work in Baghdad shortly after the invasion, beginning its operations in June 2003. The group worked to promote civic participation and strengthen Iraq's political parties, legislature and executive, the report said.

Information for this article was obtained from "Sunni Insurgent Group Asserts it Killed American," by Ernesto Londono and Joshua Partlow, Washington Post Staff Writers, published January 19, 2007 in the Washington Post.