BAGHDAD — For the first time, Iraqi police have been assigned
security responsibility for an entire province.
Officials said Iraqi police would take over security responsibility for
the Muthanna province, which borders Saudi Arabia. The province has been
under the authority of the British Army.
The police force was granted responsibility for Muthanna in a ceremony
in the
provincial capital of Samawah on Thursday, Middle East Newsline reported. Australian and British commanders
transferred their authority as Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki warned of a
renewed insurgency offensive.
"Be sure that the terrorists want to destroy and foil the process of
taking over the security issue and to hamper the political process and the
national unity government," Al Maliki said.
U.S. military commander Gen. George Casey said Muthanna would be the
first province where Iraqi security forces assume control. He said other
provinces would soon follow suit.
The preparations for the Iraqi takeover were completed during the visit
by U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. On Wednesday, Casey updated
Rumsfeld on the security situation in Baghdad.
"All of you know that the security situation in Baghdad is difficult,
and we're working very hard with the new government to take care of the
terrorists and the death squads that are undermining the security
situation," Casey said.
