Salah al-Din residents protest removal of governor

SALAH AL-DIN / IraqiNews.com: Hundreds of residents of Salah al-Din’s al-Dalouiya city have demonstrated in front of the headquarters of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP), protesting the dismissal of their governor. The demonstration was organized by the IIP in Balad district, an Iraqi News correspondent, who attended the demonstration, said. On Thursday (Sept. 3), the provincial council in Salah al-Din removed Governor Matshar Hussein, who belongs to the Sunni Iraqi Accord Front (IAF), citing his refusal to appear for questioning. Seventeen council members have voted in favor of his dismissal, while seven voted against and three abstained. The governor, who was present at the demonstration, said: “My dismissal is illegal, according to law experts. The federal court will prove the fairness of our cause.” Several provincial council members, chieftains and notables have attended the demonstration. Dalouiya lies 90 km north of Baghdad. It is administratively affiliated with Salah al-Din, whose capital city, Tikrit, is 175 km north of Baghdad. SS (P) 2