23 killed in Twin Iraq Attacks

BAGHDAD: Staggered explosions killed 23 people Wednesday including the governor of Anbar, Iraqi officials said, in the latest violence to roil a turbulent province that is still struggling to stamp out the remnants of the al-Qaida insurgency.

The western province of Anbar is strategically important because it was once the heartland of support for al-Qaida linked militants before American officials paid Iraqi fighters to join a pro-government force.

Police official Lt. Col. Imad al-Fahdawi said two bombs exploded in Anbar’s capital of Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad. He says a suicide bomber in a car caused the first blast on the main road near the provincial administration buildings.

Gov. Qassim al-Fahdawi, the deputy police chief and other officials came to inspect the damage, the police official said, when a suicide bomber on foot detonated a vest full of explosives nearby.

The governor and deputy police chief were killed and other officials wounded, al-Fahdawi said. Police have put a curfew in place, he added.

“The leadership in the province have requested support from U.S. forces in response to the attacks near the provincial government center in Ramadi,” said military spokesman Lt. Col. Curtis Hill. He said American forces were helping evacuate casualties, establish security and forensic investigation.

---

23 killed in Twin Iraq Attacks was first posted on December 30, 2009 at 5:31 pm.

Historic NFC Award Inked

GWADAR, Pakistan News: The Chief Ministers of four provinces on Wednesday signed the historic 7th National Finance Commission Award.

The ceremony at the picturesque Gwadar, in Balochistan province, was witnessed by Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani and members of his cabinet.

The venue was specially chosen to reflect the desire of all the provinces to end years of deprivation of the largest province of the country.

The Award was inked by the finance ministers of the four provinces in the presence of Punjab Chief Minster Shahbaz Sharif, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, NWFP Chief Minister Ameer Haider Hoti and Balochistan Chief Minister Aslam Raisani and Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin.

The new Award would come into effect from the next financial year and marks the agreement by all the federating units over the distribution of financial resources among the provinces of Pakistan by the federal government on annual basis.

Under the award the population will be given 82 percent weightage, poverty 10.3 percent, revenue collection 5 percent (2.5 percent revenue generation, 2.5 percent revenue collection) and area 2.7 percent.

Under the new NFC Award, the federation met the demand of the provincial government for a greater share in the national resources.

The provincial share of the divisible pool would increase from 47.5 percent to 56 percent in the first year of NFC and 57.5 percent in the remaining years of the Award.

Under the new formula, Punjab would get 51.74 percent from the divisible pool, Sindh 24.55 percent, NWFP 14.62 percent and Balochistan 9.09 percent.

In the new award Punjab has given up 1.27 percent, Sindh 0.39 percent and NWFP 0.26 percent, while Balochistan has gained.

---

Historic NFC Award Inked was first posted on December 30, 2009 at 5:35 pm.