British forces ask tribal leader to head up Basra civilian administration

KUWAIT CITY (AFP) Apr 08, 2003
British forces have asked a senior Iraqi tribal leader to form a committee to run the newly-captured city of Basra, a military spokesman said.

"We have been approached by a local tribal leader, a sheikh," Colonel Chris Vernon told reporters here.

"The British divisional commander met him last night. He will form, at present, the leadership within the Basra province and we have asked him to form from the local community a committee that he thinks is representative of local people."

Vernon would not name the sheikh but said that he was a "worthwhile and credible" figure.

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