CAMPAIGNERS for a North-East assembly took their message to the region's ethnic minority communities yester- day.
More than 60 business and community leaders from across the region gathered in Newcastle to hear the case for a regional assembly.
People will decide in a referendum in October whether the region should have an assembly, which would take over some responsibilities from the Government.
Abdul Latif, the owner of the Rupali restaurant, in Newcastle, said: "An elected North-East assembly will give us the freedom to make decisions here in the region in the interests of the community.
"If the community is happy, then business will do well. The community must come first."
Similar events will take place in Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
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