Iraqi governor offers to resign
2004-07-31 13:40
Ramadi - The governor of Iraq's restive Al-Anbar province said on Saturday he would happily resign if kidnappers released three of his sons, snatched from their home by gunmen four days ago.
"I am ready to give in to your demands, and if you believe my presence in the (provincial capital) city (Ramadi) does not serve the interests of the region, I am ready to go," said Abdel Karim Berges in an open letter to the province.
Berges defended his period of office in the vast province on the border with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, saying he had arranged convoys of food and medicine for residents in Fallujah when the city was besieged by US troops in April.
On Wednesday, his sons, aged 15 to 30, were kidnapped by gunmen who barged into and torched his family home in Ramadi while he was at work.
Ramadi is the main city in the predominantly Sunni Muslim province of Al-Anbar, where US troops have come under persistent attack and loyalty to ousted dictator Saddam Hussein runs high.
- AFP