C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 002394

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/03/2025
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER IZ
SUBJECT: AL-ANBAR GOVERNOR KILLED; PROVINCIAL COUNCIL
ELECTS REPLACEMENT

Classified By: Acting Political Counselor Henry S. Ensher.
Reasons 1.4 (B) and (D).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Joint Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces
discovered the body of Al-Anbar Governor, Raja Nawaf
Farhan May 29. The Anbar Provincial Council met June 1 in
a special session and selected current PC Chairman,
Engineer Ma'moun Sami Rasheed, as the new governor. Former
Governor Fassal Nejris Al-Ghaoud claimed he remains
Governor of Anbar. END SUMMARY.

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BACKGROUND
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2. (C) The Al Anbar Provincial Council (PC) selected Raja
Nawaf Farhan as the Governor of Anbar Province on May 5.
Within days, insurgents/terrorists revealed they had
kidnapped him en route to the provincial capital Ramadi.
(NOTE: The governor served as mayor of Al-Qa'im, a city
located on the western-most part of the province,
approximately 20 km from the Syrian border. He had taken
an active role against insurgent elements in the area. END
NOTE.)


3. (C) Joint Coalition and Iraqi Security Forces conducted
cordon and search operations against a suspected terrorist
safe house in the Rawah area on May 29. Iraqi soldiers
fought side-by-side with U.S. forces in the operation. The
Governor was found dead inside the destroyed building,
where he had been chained to a propane tank. Four foreign
fighters were killed in the operation: three Saudis and
one Moroccan; two Syrians, an Algerian and a Jordanian were
detained.

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COUNCIL SELECTS NEW GOVERNOR
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4. (C) The PC met June 1 in a special session to discuss
next steps; twenty-seven members attended the meeting.
They unanimously agreed to move ahead with the selection of
a new governor, electing current PC Chairman, Ma'moun Sami
Rasheed (biographic information -- para 8). He was the
only candidate considered for the job; a replacement PC
Chairman has not yet been identified by council members.
Current Deputy Governor Taleb Ibrahim will continue in
that role.

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FORMER GOVERNOR CLAIMS TITLE

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5. (C) In Baghdad, ex-governor Fassal al-Ghaoud, attended a
May 31 meeting hosted by Minister for Provincial Affairs,
Sa'ad Naif Hardan, according to Anbar Provincial Council
Secretary Sheikh Hussein Zubaer Thelej who also attended.

SIPDIS
He reported that Fassal (once again) declared himself to be
the legitimate Governor of Anbar Province, and he intended
to establish a provincial administrative office in the
Babil Hotel in Baghdad. Fassal added that he would not
return to Ramadi until the Marines left the city; he
"ordered" Deputy Governor Taleb Ibrahim barred from
entering Ramadi or its Government Center. According to
Sheikh Hussein, the Minister of State and several others in
attendance welcomed Fassal's statement and plans, while
others expressed puzzlement and disbelief. Sheikh Hussein
told Marine officers in Fallujah that he had asked Fassal
if he wanted to settle this dispute with "fists" or by the
"law." Fassal chose "law". The Sheikh said he then began
to read from the TAL and CPA 71 to make the point that the
PC's election of a new Governor had been in accordance with
the law. After the meeting, said Hussein, several Iraqi
military officers in attendance (apparently at Fassal and
Minister's invitation) thanked him for citing the law, of
which they were not aware.


6. (C) Comment. The quick election of Ma'moun as the new
governor represents a positive step; any gap in continuity
in provincial leadership would add to Anbar's ongoing
governance challenges. Ma'moun has already established a
credible and effective working relationship with the
Coalition in his capacity as PC Chairman. He proved to be
an adept facilitator at the PRDC's first meeting May 29.
(septel).


7. (C) Fassal Al-Ghaoud's positioning and antics in Baghdad
are not surprising, but could lead to more substantive
problems if left unaddressed by the ITG. (NOTE: Fassal
claims the January 30 the Provincial Council elections were
invalid and has contested since then the PC's legal
standing. End Note.) High-level ITG engagement regarding
Fassal's claims would help reaffirm the legitimacy of new
Governor Ma'moun's status as the troubled province's new
leader.


8. (C) Biographic information on Ma'moun Sami Rasheed:
Civil Engineer, leader of the Iraqi Islamic Party in Al-
Anbar; is a devout Muslim. Served on the Provincial
Council since 2004 (including during the CPA-era) and has
been acting President of the PC since March 2005. Ma'moun
is charismatic, intelligent and well spoken; he has
developed an effective working relationship with coalition
representatives in the province.


9. (U) REO HILLA, REO BASRA, REO MOSUL, and REO KIRKUK,
minimize considered.


Satterfield