More than 200 Sunni sheiks in Iraq's western Anbar province have decided to form a new political party to oppose al-Qaida. The men met Thursday in Ramadi, Anbar's provincial capital, and agreed to form a new party called Iraq Awakening, said Sheik Jubeir Rashid, a participant at the meeting. The group would be a national party, with a platform of opposition to al-Qaida and cooperation with the Shiite-led government in Baghdad. Rashid is also an aide to Sheik Abdul Sattar al-Rishawi, leader of the Anbar Salvation Council — an alliance of clans in the province which back the government. Al-Rishawi is one of the chief organizers of the new party as well. The Iraq Awakening party would not be linked to any existing Sunni groups, Rashid said.
No comments:
Post a Comment