SIDQI, BAKR

born 1890, Kirkuk, Iraq died Aug. 12, 1937, Mosul Iraqi general. Sidqi joined the Turkish army at age 18 but was already an ardent Arab nationalist who championed the cause of the Arabs against the Turks. He was named general by King Faysal I and put down tribal rebellions in 1933 (resulting in a massacre of Assyrian tribesmen), 1935, and 1936. As chief of the National Reform Force he directed a coup against the civilian cabinet on Oct. 29, 1936. Although Sidqi was the chief support of the new government of Hikmat Sulayman and was accused of having dictatorial ambitions, he was not interested in practical politics and devoted himself to reorganizing the army along the lines of that of Kemalist Turkey. He was assassinated by an anti-administration soldier.