Uprisings erupted in the Kurdish north and Shi'a southern and central parts of Iraq , but were ruthlessly repressed .
In the aftermath of the fighting , social and ethnic unrest among Shi'ite Muslims , Kurds , and dissident military units threatened the stability of Saddam 's government .
Uprisings erupted in the Kurds north and Shi'a southern and central parts of Iraq , but were ruthlessly repressed .
In the aftermath of the fighting , social and ethnic unrest among Shi'ite Muslims , Kurds , and dissident military units threatened the stability of Saddam 's government .