BAGHDAD
An agreement has been reached to end a sit-in staged by Sunnis in the western Iraqi province of Al-Anbar.
Defense Minister Saadoun al-Dulaimi met Sunday in Ramadi, the provincial capital, with representatives of Al-Anbar provincial council, tribal chieftains and sit-in organizers, deputy head of Al-Anbar provincial council Saleh al-Essawi told Anadolu Agency.
He added that the two sides agreed on the release of Al-Anbar lawmaker Ahmed al-Alwani, who was detained by Iraqi authorities on Saturday in a deadly raid on his Ramadi home.
They also agreed on dismantling tents elected by protesters near the international road in the province, provided that local policemen, not army personnel, dismantle the tents.
Al-Dulaimi said that army units dispatched to Al-Anbar after al-Alwani's arrest would be withdrawn within three days.
Iraq's Sunnis accuse the Shiite-dominated government of Nouri al-Maliki of discrimination and bias.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
