From Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Leaders from four prominent Iraqi tribes met at an undisclosed location and vowed to help put a stop to terrorism in Iraq, Baghdad's Al-Da'wah reported on 7 October. The leaders said that they would issue a warning to armed groups operating in and around Al-Fallujah to surrender voluntarily or face death. Their decision reportedly came after it became clear that multinational forces were prepared to launch a major incursion into the restive city in the coming days, the daily reported. The tribes are: the Al-Hamamidah tribe from Al-Ramadi; the Al-Jubur tribe from Tikrit; the Al-Gharir tribe from Al-Yusufiyah; and a clan of the Al-Janabat tribe from Al-Latifiyah.
The daily reported that the tribal leaders will remind Iraqi militants that they will be eligible for a general pardon if they surrender voluntarily; it is unclear whether foreign militants would be eligible for a pardon, but they will be encouraged to surrender nonetheless. The tribal leaders voiced their support for the Iraqi police and National Guard in their efforts to establish security in Al-Fallujah, the newspaper reported. |