President of the Republic Abdul Latif Jamal Rashid received today, Monday, at the Baghdad Palace, a delegation from the Halabja Support Council, consisting of a number of political, academic and social figures in Halabja. A statement by the Presidency of the Republic stated: "President Rashid welcomed the guest delegation, praising the valuable sacrifices made by the people of Halabja during their struggle against dictatorship and tyranny, stressing the necessity of repaying the debt to this city and its citizens by turning it from a district into a governorate." The President referred to the two letters he sent to the Council, in which he called for the necessity of including the draft law to transform Halabja into a governorate on the agenda of the House of Representatives to vote on it in preparation for ratifying the draft law, especially after completing the legal procedures for that, and the Ministry of Planning completing the procedures for transforming it into a governorate. The meeting also discu ssed ways to develop and grow Halabja from the economic, service and developmental aspects, indicating: "The Presidency of the Republic is following up on the procedures for the draft law to transform Halabja continuously and on a weekly basis, stressing that: "Halabja is not alone and we will stand with its people to overcome their suffering." For their part, the members of the Halabja Support Council expressed their thanks for the President of the Republic's interest and his personal adoption and support for their legitimate cause, stressing their continuation in demanding the rights of the people of Halabja in loyalty to the blood of the martyrs that was shed for the sake of liberation from injustice and dictatorship. Source: National Iraqi News Agency