Iraqi President Saddam Hussein has named four new provincial governors for southern Iraq, state television reported Tuesday.
Whether specifying if the posts were vacant or the incumbents sacked, it said Ayed Mekhlef, Walid Hamid Tawfik, Turki Baydar and Ibrahim Shujaa were named governors of Najaf, Basra, Diyali and Babylon, respectively.
Saddam Hussein, during a swearing in ceremony, urged the new governors to "carry out their responsibilities at the service of the people," the television reported. The appointments came amidst US threats to take military action aimed at overthrowing Saddam despite his decision last week to readmit United Nations arms inspectors. (Albawaba.com)
