Anbar Province witnesses demos against province’s gas investment

ANBAR / IraqiNews.com: A security source in west Iraq’s Anbar Province has stated on Wednesday that severe security measures have been taken in the province’s largest city of Falluja, to protect a demonstration expected to be launched later in the day, expressing support for the Province’s Council rejecting the investment of Akkas Gas Field by the Iraqi government. “Serious security measures have been taken by the security forces in Baghdad Street, leading to the office of Falluja’s Qaim-Maqam (ruler), where citizens have gathered to express their support for the Province’s Council decision to reject the investment of Akkas Gas Field.. The Anbar Council had decided on October 12, 2010 to reject the exportation of Akkas Gas Field products, expected to have a reserve reaching 2.1 trillion (t) cubic feet, unless it would be manfucared inside the Province, according to a statement issued by its Council. The security source told IraqiNews.com that police forces had been sent to the area of the said street, where vehicles were being inspected, along with other security measures. Ramadi, the capital of Anbar Province is 110 kms to the west of Baghdad. In a related development, the peaceful demonstration had started in Falluja city, accompanied by strong security measures, whilst the demonstrators have expressed support for the decision of Anbar Council, rejecting the export of Akkas Field’s Gas, unless it would be utilized inside the Province. One of  the organizers of the demonstration, Mohammed al-Zuba’e told IraqiNews.com that “the demonstration, set out today, was organized to express our support for all decisions taken to support the pre-requisites of Iraqi citizens, in order to satisfy the necessary services for them, including employment opportunities for its its citizens. He added that “the decisions must be taken to cope with the legitimate standards and to lean to a popular consensus.” The demonstration was launched with the participation of hundreds of citizens and representatives of the civil society and leading elements of the city, along with serious security measures to support the demonstrators. SKH/SR 1