Sunni security force in Iraq rejected

Ramadi, 12 Dec. (AKI) - Iraq's defence minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi is said to have rejected a request from leading political figures in the violence-wracked al-Anbar province for the creation of their own provincial security force. Currently most of those responsible for maintaining order in the mainly Sunni province are Shiites from other regions. The minister also said he was upset that last month's bombs that devastated three hotels in the Jordanian capital, Amman, were triggered by "the sons and daughters of al-Anbar".

According to a CNN reporter embedded with US troops in the area, the meeting, which had been encouraged by American diplomats, was considered a step forward in creating dialogue and curbing insurgent activity. However it ended acrimoniously when al-Dulaimi, a Sunni from al-Anbar province himself, made clear having an indigenous security force was not an option.

Just two per cent of eligible voters turned out in Al-Anbar in last December's elections, but with Sunni leaders now tentatively participating in the political process there are hopes that the figure may me much higher in Thursday's polling for the 275 member national assembly.