Maliki aims to ease fear on security
Güncelleme Tarihi:
AP
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Haziran 29, 2009 00:00
BAGHDAD - Iraq's prime minister said that the full withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from cities and towns was a message that his country was ready to take over its own security, even as he appealed for national unity after a week of attacks left more than 250 people dead.
Both of Iraq's vice-presidents joined in the call on Saturday, with one of them warning Iraqis to stay away from crowded places favored by bombers. There have been concerns that Iraqi forces will not be able to provide adequate security after U.S. combat troops completely pull out of Baghdad and other urban areas by June 30, part of a security agreement that calls for all American troops to leave Iraq by the end of 2011. Under the agreement, which took effect Jan. 1, U.S. troops have taken a secondary role, giving Iraqi forces the lead in operations.
On Saturday, few if any of the 133,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq were visible in its cities, with most already having pulled out of urban centers in recent weeks. The troops have assembled in large bases outside urban centers and will continue to conduct combat operations in rural areas and near the border.
"We are on the threshold of a new phase that will bolster Iraq's sovereignty," PMNouri al-Maliki said at a memorial service for a Shiite leader who died six years ago. He added that June 30 was "a message to the world that we are now able to safeguard our security and administer our internal affairs." Police said they had bolstered checkpoints and patrols, especially in Shiite areas of Baghdad where bombers have targeted markets with deadly effect.
On Saturday, few if any of the 133,000 U.S. troops still in Iraq were visible in its cities, with most already having pulled out of urban centers in recent weeks. The troops have assembled in large bases outside urban centers and will continue to conduct combat operations in rural areas and near the border.
"We are on the threshold of a new phase that will bolster Iraq's sovereignty," PMNouri al-Maliki said at a memorial service for a Shiite leader who died six years ago. He added that June 30 was "a message to the world that we are now able to safeguard our security and administer our internal affairs." Police said they had bolstered checkpoints and patrols, especially in Shiite areas of Baghdad where bombers have targeted markets with deadly effect.