FOLLOW ON REPORT FOR RAMADI PGC ATTACKS

C O N F I D E N T I A L BAGHDAD 003378 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/30/2019 TAGS: PGOV PTER SUBJECT: FOLLOW ON REPORT FOR RAMADI PGC ATTACKS REF: BAGHDAD POL 12/30 E-MAIL TO NEA/I. Classified By: Acting Deputy Chief of Mission Gary A. Grappo for reason s 1.4 (b) and (d). 1.(C) It is still unclear which deputy governor will assume the interim governor post while Governor Qasim recuperates from wounds sustained in the December 30 attacks at Ramadi's Provincial Governance Center (PGC)(ref e-mail). PRT Anbar reports that Hikmat Jassim al-Mehemdi (Deputy Governor for Administration) is at the PGC and is being recognized as acting governor, but that head of the Awakening Council (Sahwa)Sheikh Ahmed Abu Risha, is supporting Fouad al-Karbuli (Deputy Governor for Technical Affairs). According to the PRT, the two deputy governors remain in discussion with each other as to which will fill the top post. 2.(C) PRToffs report that the PGC building was nearly empty on December 31, with most members attending funerals for those killed in the December 30 blasts. The regularly scheduled Tuesday meeting of the PC has not been canceled yet. 3.(C) There were no American casualties in the attacks. As of December 31, Provincial Joint Coordination Committee (PJGCC) figures put the number of dead from the attacks at 28, with 76 wounded. 4.(C) PRT has learned that at least one Provincial Council (PC) member, Sadun al-Khalifawi was killed in the December 30 blasts. PC member Sheikh Sa'ad Abdullah Mansi was also believed dead but PRT had not obtained final confirmation. Under the Provincial Powers law, successors to PC members are to be from the same list, but there is flexibility in applying the law. Successors to the fallen PC members are not yet known. 5.(C) Contrary to initial accounts from the Iraqi media, PRT reports that Iraqi police are maintaining order in Ramadi and no Iraqi Army units are visible. Traffic is flowing and there does not appear to be a curfew in force. 6.(C) The four PRT Anbar members who were at the PGC during the December 30 attacks report that on the evening following the attacks, PC members voted to remove police chief Tariq from his post and that the Anbar Operations Center had chosen Brigadier General Mohammed Rashid to succeed him. FORD