An official in Diyala Province announced that more than 280 prominent personalities and tribal and military leaders have formed a “Baquba Salvation Council” to confront acts of violence in the province, focusing especially on combatting the so-called “Islamic State of Iraq.”

Al-Melaf reports in Arabic that Shaykh 'Awad Najm al-Rabi'i, the head of the new “Baquba Salvation Council” announced that around 280 tribal leaders, academics, military leaders, from the full range of sects and ethnicities have formed the council to confront the deteriorating security situation in the province and confront the “gangs” that operate under the organizational rubric of the “Islamic State.”

Citing “resentment and anger among the tribal leaders at the conduct of these gangs,” al-Rabi'i said the leaders were insistent on “declaring war against them and expelling them from the province and bringing security back to the citizens,” the agency writes.

The tribal leader added, “We are prepared to cooperate with the armed factions that maintain loyalty to a nonsectarian, non-partisan Iraq with the goal of rooting out these terrorist groups,” adding that the current situation in the province was “tragic” and saying that it was urgent that the government get involved to deliver the city from the control of “takfiris and tens of Arab and Afghan terrorists that hide in the agricultural areas,” al-Melaf reports. Takfiri is a term used to refer to extremists who practice takfir, or the pronouncement of other Muslims to be non-Muslims.

Baquba city and Diyala Province have seen an increase in acts of violence in recent months as armed groups, many operating under the rubric of the “Islamic State of Iraq” organization, have increased activity in the area, in part under the influence of the security operations in other areas, notably Baghdad and Anbar provinces which have driven some militant groups out into other areas.

No further information was available about the capabilities or operations of the new council, which is clearly modeled on what was known as the Anbar Salvation Council, a coalition of tribal leaders formed in Anbar Province in fall 2006 to fight against the influence of al-Qa'ida in that province.

Diyala Province borders Baghdad Province to the north and east. The city of Baquba is located approximately 35 mines from the capital.