Tribal rejection of turning Diala province into a region
An Iraqi Shiite tribal fighter holds his weapon in front of a shop in Basra. Essam al Sudani / AFP
BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The head of Iraqi Tribal Department in the Interior Ministry announced that a big tribal conference was held in Diala, covering Tameem Tribe chiefs, declared their rejection of turning Diala from provincial status to region. General Marid Abdul Hussein told IraqiNews.com that 500 tribal chiefs of Tameem Tribe met and expressed their avowed rejection of the project. The conferee demanded enhancing national unity, rejection of any attempt to divide Iraq and support for the security forces to combat terrorism. Baaquba, center of Diala province, lies 57 km northeast of the capital, Baghdad.