Shortly after the
invasion in 2003, Sunni tribal leaders and former Ba'athists, led by members of the Al-Kharbit (Khalifa) and Al-Gaoud (Nimr) families met to select Abdulkareem Burjis, a former General, as their unofficial leader and new Governor of Anbar Province. Burjis's position was later recognized by the coalition. Barjis resigned in August 2004 after his three sons — Ezideen, Ibrahim, and Mustafa — were released in
Fallujah by militants who had been holding them. The militants responsible then released a video on 5 August 2004 showing Barjis resigning and apologizing for opposing the Iraqi insurgency. In the video Barjis stated, "I am Abdulkareem Barjis, governor of Al-Anbar. I declare before God and you my repentance of any action I did against the mujahedin, and I announce my resignation of my post." The United States subsequently announced it would not make concessions to hostage takers. The militants responsible were believed to be members of al-Qaeda in Iraq. After his resignation an interim governor filled the role of Governor of Anbar. in January 2005, and the Provincial Governing Council subsequently appointed
Raja Nawaf Farhan al-Mahalawi as the new Governor. ==References==