Salahuddin declaration for a region “not sufficient”, MP

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: National Alliance MP Ahmed Habeeb described Salahuddin province declaration is “not sufficient”, pointing out that the aim of such move is to press the central government for more privileges. Habeeb told IraqiNews.com that “it is their constitutional right, but the reasons are unrealistic, because the province cannot be separated from other provinces because it has border vent and lacks the bases for the region status”. “If they study the matter carefully, they will retreat from such a decision”, he added. Twenty provincial members, out of 28, voted for making Salahuddin province an independent region within Iraqi unity. He said that the province justification was the arrests, while the real operations were covering all of Iraqi provinces due to intelligence information, which matter will be referred to Iraqi legislative organs. Security forces arrested during the recent days 33 of advanced ex-Baath Party members and military officers under charges of organizing party meetings. Tikrit, center of Salahuddin, lies 175 km north Baghdad.