BAGHDAD — The United States has launched a joint effort to determine
criteria for the transfer of security responsibility to Iraq.
U.S. officials said Iraq and the United States have agreed to form a
task force that would outline the transfer of responsibility from the U.S.
Army to the Iraqi military, Middle East Newsline reported. They said the task force would not draft a
timetable for security transfer.
"The joint task force will establish criteria and conditions that will
help determine when Iraqi security forces will be capable of assuming full
responsibility to secure Iraq," U.S. ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said on
Sunday.
In 2005, security responsibility for much of Baghdad was transferred to
the Iraq Army. About three Iraq Army battalions have been deemed capable of
independent counter-insurgency operations.
"This task force will establish no timeline, but, instead, identify
conditions sanctioned by the leadership of the Iraqi government and the
multi-national coalition," Khalilzad said.
The announcement was issued as Sunni insurgents maintained attacks on
Iraqi army and police units. On Sunday, at least 39 people were killed in a
suicide car bombing outside a police station in Baghdad.
Officials said Sunni insurgents targeted the Rashid police station in
eastern Baghdad. They said
a suicide bomber arrived some 20 meters from the front gate of the police
facility when he detonated his truck filled with explosives. The truck was
blocked by security barricades from reaching the station.
The truck was loaded with 220 kilograms of explosives, officials said.
The blast damaged the police station and destroyed 18 vehicles as well as
neighboring houses.
Officials said many of the victims were police officers. They said
identification was difficult as many of the bodies were completely burned.
"The car bomber made a deliberate decision to attack the Iraqi police
station," said Maj. Russ Goemaere, spokesman for the U.S. Army's 2nd Brigade
Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division. "The terrorists undoubtedly see the
improved Iraqi police services as a threat to their operations."
At first, Iraqi police and the U.S. military reported 40 casualties.
Hours later, officials revised the death toll to 25. On Monday, the number
of deaths was raised to 39.
[A suicide bomber also attacked an Interior Ministry security facility
on Monday. At least two people were killed.]
Iraq Army troops were called to the scene to secure the Rashid police
station. U.S. military commanders said the blast did not threaten the Iraqi
police presence in eastern Baghdad.
"The resolve of the Iraqi security forces remains firm," said U.S. Army
Col. Joseph DiSalvo.
