Iraqi Forces To Assume Security Operations This Year
Nji Che - All Headline News Staff Writer Baghdad, Iraq (AHN) - Iraq's President Jalal Talabani on Wednesday said Iraqi security forces will takeover security operations, from the hands of U.S.-led coalition forces, by the end of the year. Currently, Iraqi forces have only assumed security operations in one of Iraq's 18 provinces. The BBC quotes Talabani as saying, "Iraqi security forces will gradually take security responsibility by the end of this year for all the provinces of Iraq." The President was optimistic despite the scattered attacks that struck Iraqi cities on Tuesday, killing at least 44 people including 20 soldiers. The government initially said it planned to fully takeover security duties by the end of 2006. Talabani's comments clearly set out a calendar when compared to more cautious statements issued in the past. He said the new government would wipe out extremist groups. "The terrorists fear the unity of the Iraqi people," Talabani said. "Our armed forces are doing well, but we expect more from them." Iraqi forces have already assumed full security duties in one province, Muthana. Muthana is a relatively calm province in the south of the country. Other security forces have joined the U.S. and other coalition troops in the other parts of the country. Several thousand Shiite civilians, who guard neighborhoods against terrorists, staged a march through the streets of Baghdad on Wednesday in a drive to sh |
