Iraqi News Agency announced: 123 Iraqi tribes asked for guarantee of Ashraf City protection and asserted that transfer of its protection would lead to a human tragedy.

Sheikh Kadhim al-Anizan, head of the Southern Iraqi Tribal Sheikhs, announced his full support of the PMOI members in Ashraf City and said: I and Sheikh Sabah al-Araj were the first persons who supported the PMOI and said that the PMOI were the last chance for Iraqi people, and that is why I say explicitly we should not relinquish them and must protect them. What is under way with regard to delivering Ashraf security responsibility would lead to a catastrophe, and this is absolutely unacceptable for us, as the southern Iraqi tribes either Shiite or Sunni. The PMOI members in Ashraf are recognized as political refugees and their special protection must be continued as it has been so far, particularly that the US forces have disarmed them and they must be protected completely.

Referring to the clerical regime’s conspiracies against Ashraf, Sheikh Anizan added: Even in the case of withdrawal of US forces from Iraq, the international protection by the UN must be replaced, so if any probable attack occurs against them, it would be considered an international incursion.

Referring to the return of militias and death squads from Iran, Sheikh Anizan said: I am in continuous contact with tribal sheikhs in 5 provinces of Wasit, Al-Muthanna, Dhiqar, Maysan and Basra. The murders have started in Naseriya, Basra and Al-Imara since 5 days ago because the militias have started coming back from Iran in special groups to stage killings.