Iraq tribal chiefs sign 'pact of honor' on campaign against terror
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Baghdad, Aug 26, IRNA
Iraq-Campaign against Terrorism
Hundreds of Iraq's tribal chiefs Saturday signed a 'pact of honor', in support for Iraqi government's national reconciliation plan to end sectarian violence and terrorism tearing the country.
"Realizing the gravity of the situation our country is undergoing, we pledge in front of God and the Iraqi people to be sincere and serious in preserving the unity of our country," said the pact signed by tribal leaders and sheiks at a national conference.
The chiefs also pledged to 'work hard to stop the bloodletting and sectarian killings that have nothing to do with our values'.
A representative read out the agreement, which he described as a 'pact of honor', on live television.
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, who formed Iraqi unity government three months ago, is struggling to control the sectarian violence and a Sunni Arab insurgency that have together claimed about 10,000 lives since last May.
"These tribes have to play a significant role in fighting terrorists, saboteurs and infiltrators," al-Maliki said in a speech to open the chiefs' conference earlier Saturday.
There is also the question of how to deal with insurgents from the minority Sunni Arab community who hope to regain the power they held in the Sunni-dominated regime of Saddam Hussein.
Al-Maliki and his fellow Shia Muslims say amnesty can be given to insurgents who have not killed any Iraqi.
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