RAMADI - Leading members of the Qubaysi tribe, one of the biggest tribes of Iraq, are warm to the idea of Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq as a Muslim country.
Speaking to A.A correspondent Dr. Fazil Mohammad Al Qubaysi, Ramadi head of Iraqi Islamic Party said on Friday that Turkish army was better than American soldiers in many aspects.
Noting that they were the same nation with Turks and that there was no difference between them, Al Qubaysi said that ''now, we are under U.S. occupation. Americans are not Muslim. There is the idea of chastity, honour in Turks. They know well the Islamic rules. They are much more better than American army.''
Al Qubaysi said that even if Turkey didn't come to Iraq, it was always an important country for Iraq, adding ''we explain the heroism of Turkish people on our religious days. All members of the Iraqi Islamic Party had always good feelings and respect for Turkey. Particularly the west of Iraq loves Turks.''
Al Qubaysi said that the Turkish graveyard in Ramadi was demolished by Saddam regime in 1974 and a post administration office was established in its place.
Al Qubaysi noted that another important issue for them was prevention of north of Iraq's being separated from the motherland which was also important for Turkey.
Hajdi Jasim Mohammad Qubaysi, another leading member of Qubaysi tribe said in his part that the Iraqi people wished Turkey's sending soldiers to Iraq. He said that that the presence of Muslim countries in Ramadi was better, adding ''as the Iraqi people, we want muslim country Turkey.''
Another member of the family Dr. Ismail Qubaysi said that if the Turkish army was to come to Iraq as an invader, he was against it, adding that ''but I will be very pleased if Turkish soldiers come to Iraq to save Iraqis from this difficult situation.''
Another member of the tribe Imam Suphi Ahmad said in his part that he thought that Turkey would do better things in Iraq than Americans, adding that he was sure that Turkish soldiers would have important contributions in fulfillment of many services.

RAMADI GOVERNOR AL RAVI SAYS THEY PREFER TURKISH SOLDIERS TO SOLDIERS OF OTHER NATIONS SINCE THEY ARE MUSLIM
Abdulkarim Bagras al Ravi, the Governor of Ramadi, one of regions in Iraq where Turkish soldiers can be deployed, said on Friday that they preferred Turkish soldiers to soldiers of other nations since they were Muslim.
Al Ravi, who hosted A.A correspondent in his house, said that a United Nations (U.N.) resolution was not obligatory for dispatch of soldiers to Iraq.
What was important was ''giving efficient service'' to Iraq, al Ravi said.
Replying to a question on what circumstances Turkish soldiers should come to Iraq, al Ravi said that it did not matter if soldiers came to Iraq under a U.N. resolution or together with the United States.
Al Ravi noted that they would tolerate soldiers of any country who came to Iraq to serve the country.
They would be more pleased if Turkey sent soldiers to Iraq instead of other countries since they preferred assistance of a Muslim country, al Ravi stated.
Al Ravi said that ''if Turkish soldiers came to Iraq, their behavior would be an important criterion in gaining sympathy of Iraqi people.''
Talking about humanitarian contributions of Turkey to Iraq, al Ravi emphasized that they expected assistance and aid of big countries like Turkey to meet their important needs.
Al Ravi said that they could handle some small services like road works or municipal works on their own but they awaited assistance of big countries like Turkey in dealing with some important issues.
Noting that they mainly faced electricity and fuel problem in the region, al Ravi asked for Turkey's assistance.
Touching on attacks on coalition forces in Iraq, al Ravi expressed view that ''those attacks were staged by either Saddam Hussein supporters or militants who infiltrated in Iraq from neighboring countries.
Al Ravi told A.A correspondents that his grandfather and uncle battled against the British army together with Turks during the World War I. Therefore, he had a special sympathy towards Turks, he added.
Meanwhile, almost all of people in Ramadi agree that ''U.S. soldiers in the region should be replaced with Turkish soldiers.''
People of Ramadi with whom A.A correspondent has met want U.S. army to leave the country as soon as possible.
Destruction and casualties caused by U.S. soldiers in Iraq cause ''anger and resentment'' of Iraqi people. And, therefore, Iraqi people express pleasure with possibility of dispatch of Turkish soldiers to Iraq and think that this dispatch will be beneficial for their country.
(BRC-AÖ) 05.09.2003