RAMADI, Iraq (AFP) — Sunni Arab tribes in the western Iraqi province of Anbar vowed on Friday to avenge the death of their leader Abdul Sattar Abu Reesha, a key US ally who was killed in a bomb attack near his home.
"We blame Al-Qaeda and we are going to continue our fight and avenge his death," said Sheikh Ahmed Abu Reesha, brother of the slain tribal chief.
Abu Reesha was killed in a bomb attack near his home outside the provinvial capital Ramadi on Thursday.
He was killed one day less than a year after he launched the Anbar Awakening Conference, a coalition of 42 Sunni tribes which joined forces with US troops to fight Al-Qaeda in the province.
Hours later, his brother was elected new leader of the coalition.
Thousands of people gathered to attend Friday's funeral.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki was represented by national security advisor Muwaffaq al-Rubaie who condemned Abu Reesha's killing.
"It is a national Iraqi disaster. What Abu Reesha did for Iraq, no single man has done in the country's history," Rubaie told the mourners gathered in the sheikh's house.
"We will support Anbar much more than before. Abu Reesha is a national hero."
Pallbearers carried Abu Reesha's body from Ramadi to the cemetery 10 kilometres (six miles) outside the city.
"Revenge, revenge on Al-Qaeda," shouted the crowd as thousands of Sunni Arabs followed the procession.
"There is no God but Allah and Al-Qaeda is the enemy of Allah," the mourners shouted. "Abdul Sattar is the pride of Ramadi."
The prime minister ordered an inquiry into the assassination of the high-profile US ally who shook hands with President George W. Bush when he visited Iraq just 10 days ago.
"We have set up an investigative committee to probe the circumstances of this incident and we are sure that perpetrators of this crime will be arrested and sent to justice," Maliki said in a statement.
He said the crime was clearly the work of Al-Qaeda and "aimed at destabilising the province of Anbar".
"The martyr (Abu Reesha) played a significant role in fighting takfiris (Sunni extremists) who tried to kidnap Anbar province and establish a backward dark entity in Mesopotamia (Iraq)," the premier said.
"At the same time we call upon all the honest tribal sons and all sincere men not to give strangers the chance to raise sectarianism in beloved Anbar."
Maliki, a Shiite, said Abu Reesha would "remain in the memory of Iraqis and our security services in their heroic confrontation against terrorists to expel them from Anbar."
President Jalal Talabani called on all Iraqis to fight Al-Qaeda like Abu Reesha.
"The exploits of Sheikh Abu Reesha urge us to line up and to work hand in hand against the forces of ignorance and terrorism," said Talabani, a Kurdish politician.
"The best revenge for heroes such as Abu Reesha is to continue working," he said in a statement.
Abu Reesha was killed along with three bodyguards when his convoy was struck by a roadside bomb outside Ramadi.
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