BAGHDAD 

The Iraqi government will launch a plan aimed at restoring security in western Iraq's violence-prone Anbar province, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said Wednesday.

"We're about to clear terrorists; there's an urgent need for a government plan to restore order in Anbar," al-Maliki said in a weekly address.

"We will rebuild the police apparatus in Anbar and open the door to the recruitment of tribesmen who fought alongside security forces," he added.

The Iraqi army is currently conducting a major military operation in the restive, predominantly-Sunni province.

The government says the aim of the operation is to flush out militants associated with the Al-Qaeda-linked Islamic State for Iraq and Levant.

But Sunni tribes opposed to the Shiite-dominated government continue to voice fury over civilian causalities caused by the military operation.

By Aref Youssef

englishnews@aa.com.tr