Ammash: they cannot hold elections

Anbar Provincial Council revealed the existence of more than 3 million displaced people outside their areas of residence according to statistics of the International Organization for Migration, refusing to hold the upcoming elections in the province with the large number outside their areas.

Spokesperson of the council Eid Ammash said that Anbar province is unable to hold elections on time with the absence of 3 million displaced people, their areas of residence, "noting that" there is consensus and agreement on the lack of elections in Anbar, by its local government and its Council of Governors.

He added that the Iraqi authorities contracted with US private security company to secure the international road between Baghdad and Amman, which is about 400 km long and to secure the movement of trade and public transport through it, as well as export shipments of crude oil.

Spokesperson of Anbar’s Provincial Council Ammash Al Karboli said that the Iraqi forces are not able to secure the international road extending from Baghdad to Ramadi and reaching to the port of Turbibal on the borders between Iraq and Jordan because of the increasing violations and attacks witnessed in the road over the past periods since before the launch of the current war against ISIS.

He added, in an interview with “Arabs Today”, that the provincial government and the central government contracted with a private security company to secure the international road, adding that the company will begin its functions on July 15. He stressed, “The problem lies in the length of the international road and the distance that Iraqi forces have not been able to fully secure, as ISIS has a number of camps near the road allowing its militants to carry out a number of attacks during the recent months.”

He blamed the lack of security forces and Popular Mobilization Forces in addition to the lack of advanced monitoring devices for the security violations and increasing attacks that targeted different places of Anbar Province from the extremist militants.

He stressed the need to review the leaders and security plans in Anbar province to contain the increasing violations and attacks and to undermine any opportunity for the extremist groups to return to the province.

It is noteworthy that Anbar province is witnessing from time to time, security breaches, often targeting civilians and security forces, while the security forces continue to prosecute criminal elements and arrest them in liberated areas of the province.

The provincial official demanded Iraq’s Prime Minister Haider Abadi to take the necessary measures to open Anbar International Airport, saying that the government should work during the coming period to prepare for rebuilding the province. He stressed the need for taking the measures to support foreign companies for participating in rebuilding the province.