Wednesday, September 27, 2006
Sunni tribes in Al-Anbar vow to fight militants
Politics, Tribal
Sunni tribal leaders who have vowed to drive al Qaeda out of Iraq's most restive province met the Shi'ite premier on Wednesday, marking what Washington hopes will be a breakthrough alliance against militants. Sattar al-Buzayi, a Sunni sheikh from Anbar province who has emerged in recent weeks as a leader of a tribal alliance against Osama bin Laden's followers, said he and about 15 other sheikhs had offered their cooperation to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
Maliki's office issued a statement praising the chiefs for their commitment to fighting the militants. "This is admired and respected by all Iraqis. We are fully prepared to back your efforts," the prime minister said. It was the first time Maliki had met the sheikhs since they pledged to fight al Qaeda in a meeting at Buzayi's compound in Ramadi, the provincial capital, two weeks ago.
