IRAQ: UNITED STATES OFFICIALS HAVE HELD THE FIRST MEETING WITH HEADS OF TRIBES SINCE THE APRIL 9 FALL OF BAGHDAD

Record ID: 337946

  • Title: IRAQ: UNITED STATES OFFICIALS HAVE HELD THE FIRST MEETING WITH HEADS OF TRIBES SINCE THE APRIL 9 FALL OF BAGHDAD
  • Date: 31st July 2003
  • Summary: (U4) RAMADI (100 KM WEST OF BAGHDAD), IRAQ (JULY 31, 2003)(REUTERS) 1. SLV HEADS OF TRIBES HEADING TO THE BUILDING WHERE THE MEETING WAS HELD 0.08 2. SLV HEADS OF TRIBES ENTERING THE MEETING HALL 0.13 3. LV U.S SENIOR OFFICER ADDRESSING THE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MEETING 0.20 4. SV/LV OF THE MEETING (6 SHOTS) 0.50 5. MCU (Arabic) ADNAN AL-MAHANNA, HEAD OF AL-BUALWAN TRIBE SAYING: "In fact, the Provincial Council has discussed several matters, among of which is the security in the province. The Coalition troops have asked Heads of tribes to help restore security and stability. And when security and stability prevail, we will be able to regain civil facilities such as water, electricity and sanitation." 1.20 6. SV HEADS OF TRIBES AT THE HALL 1.25 7. MCU (English) UNITED STATES ARMY SPOKESMAN CAPTAIN MICHAEL CALVERT SAYING: "We are in Anbar provincial council. It is a step of the coalition goal, that Iraqis rule Iraq. Eventually the coalition would like to step back and to allow the Iraqi people to take care of law enforcement and government of their own country. The al-Anbar provincial council is enormous step in the right direction together with police force and highway patrols, they will be able to enforce laws." 2.01 8. SV HEADS OF TRIBES AT THE HALL 2.06 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 15th August 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: RAMADI, IRAQ
  • Country: Iraq
  • Reuters ID: LVA7UT52FQ0KVZPI5ADZULUXYYOL
  • Story Text: United States officials have held the first meeting
    with heads of tribes since the April 9 fall of Baghdad.



    At the first meeting of the governing council of Al
    Anbar province -- a swathe of western Iraq that includes
    the tense towns of Ramadi and Falluja -- Colonel David
    Teeples of the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment asked for
    cooperation in ending guerrilla attacks on U.S .forces in
    the region.

    U.S. forces in charge of one of Iraq's most restive
    regions told tribal elders on Thursday they would offer a
    reward of $500 to any Iraqis who hand in shoulder-fired
    missiles that can bring down aircraft.

    The regiment oversaw the creation of the regional
    council, and retains final say in how the province is run.

    But it
    appointed the council of tribal chiefs, clerics and
    community leaders in a bid to involve locals in
    decision-making.

    Ramadi and Falluja are hotspots in the "Sunni triangle"
    region north and west of Baghdad, where many locals openly
    support deposed leader Saddam Hussein and U.S. forces
    regularly come under attack.

    The Al Anbar council has no representative on a
    25-member Governing Council appointed earlier this month by
    the U.S.-led administration in Baghdad to help govern Iraq
    and oversee the transition to democracy and self-rule.

    Members of the regional council said they wanted U.S.

    forces to do more to restore security and basic services --
    a common demand across Iraq.

    "In fact, the Provincial Council has discussed several
    matters, among of which is the security in the province.

    The Coalition troops have asked Heads of tribes to help
    restore security and stability. And when security and
    stability prevail, we will be able to regain civil
    facilities such as water, electricity and sanitation," Head
    of al-Bualwan tribe Adnan al-Muhanna said.

    The meeting also tackled other matters, including the
    infrastructure of the province.




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