(KUNA) -- The Iraq-based US army on Tuesday concluded a friendship treaty with the Anbar elders and awarded a Marines Officer Sword to two of the elders in appreciation of their efforts. According to a statement by the US army, the general commander of the Western wing of the Multi-national Force, General Gaskin officiated at the ceremony of handing the sword, which is a ritual dating back to 1805. Such swords were handed to two elders, namely , Sheikh Ahmad Abu Risha head of the Iraq Awakening Council and Sheikh Amer Al-Assafi of the Dulaim tribal union. "The ceremony was made in appreciation of the two elders' devotion," the army statement said. During the ceremony, the text of the friendship treaty was read.
The Anbar tribe is now exemplary with regard to law and order," the army statement said. The army pledged to hand out more such swords to deserving elders in future in appreciation of their assistance and cooperation with the US forces. |