Maliki stresses implementing Anbar province demands

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Premier Nouri al-Maliki stressed the importance of implementing all promises made to Anbar province. In a statement issued by his office, received by IraqiNews.com, Maliki received Anbar‘s governor Qassim Mohammed Abid, during which the demands submitted by the provincial authorities were discussed. Governor Abid confirmed the agreement on the mechanism of work and the formation of a committee to follow-up these demands. On December 20, 2012 Anbar province gave a 14-day time table for the central government to approve its 20-item demands, otherwise it will announce itself as a political region, according to its provincial council decision. The demands concentrated on allocating enough funds, withdrawing army forces from sub-administrative units, stopping arbitrary detentions and converting Habaniyah military airport into a civilian airport. 129