Arab-Turkman demonstration today in Karkouk against federation
Iraq, Politics, 12/31/2003

One Iraqi citizen was killed and other three wounded, one of them in critical condition, in a bomb explosion when an American vehicle was running in al- Karradah quarters in the downtown, while one American soldier was wounded in a bomb explosion that took place in the west of Baghdad. The occupation announced that more than 100 persons were detained in the course of its campaign against resistance fighters.

Meantime, it was disclosed yesterday that a committee formed by ten of the leaders of tribes in Tikrit, birth place of the Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, started the mission of calling on other tribal chiefs, to collaborate with the occupation and to give "the Americans the opportunity to give what they can for the Iraqis."

One of leaders of al-Saddaa tribe, and member of what is called " the reconciliation committee," Sheikh Sabah Mahmoud, said that the mission of the committee is to convince the Iraqis to give up resisting the occupation, and drop the arms, and convince the clergy men to call on the Iraqis for that.

Mahmoud added that the formation of the committee, which was announced on Saturday, "is just the beginning." He said that he had notified leaders of the tribes that "the past is over, and the reality is that the Americans are here on the ground, and we have to give them the chance to see what they can do."

He explained that the committee is the fruit of consultations held between the leaders of the tribes, and the Americans, in order to strengthen relations between the Sunni community and the occupation forces, which face the worst attacks in the areas situated in what is called "the Sunni triangle."

The aims of these meetings was to convey citizens complaints against curfews, and acts of detentions carried out by the occupation forces in the city. But the tribal leaders started to realize, as American officials said, that they have to collaborate with the occupation forces in order to preserve their position in the provisional phase, and the aftermath, when the provisional government will be formed and the constitution is drawn.

The leader of the American forces in Tikrit Gen. Steve Racel, who presides over the meetings between the leaders of the tribes and the Americans, said that the senior American officials in Baghdad were surprised by news on this dialogue because they used to think that "Tikrit is the home of evil, and nothing will happen in this city." Consultations inside the committee is focused on the issue of the detainees by the occupation forces who tolled thousands in number.

In Karkouk, the Arab and Turkman parties called for a demonstration today in protest of the federation idea proposed by the Kurds to the Iraqi governing council, and which states to annex Karkouk to the Kurdistan area. The secretary general of the Arab coalition in Karkouk, Ismael Abdul Hussein al-Abboudi, said that the demonstration will be at the invitation of the coalition, in addition to the Turkman's front and the Naserite vanguards party and the Arab socialist movement, al-Dawa party, Bader organizations, and followers of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader, who will ensure the protection of the demonstrators.

For his part, the governor of Salah Eddine, Hussein Jasem Jebara, stressed he rejects the idea of a federation in Iraq, because it will contribute to the eruption of a civil and sectarian war, and provok sedition among the Iraqis." He called on the Iraqi parties to "embark on tolerance in solving the problems."

Previous Stories:
  Iraqi intellectuals, writers delegation meet al-Assad   (12/29/2003)
  Turkey renews warning to the Kurds: we do not want new adventures   (12/27/2003)
  Hakim vows to end occupation, missile attacks continue in Baghdad   (12/26/2003)

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