Team Infidel
Forum Spin Doctor
NASIRIYAH - Iraqi forces will this month take full charge of security in the
southern province of Dhi Qar from Italian troops, who are in the course of
withdrawing from Iraq, an Iraqi official said Sunday.
"In the coming days of this month, the security of the province will be
handed over to the Iraqi forces by the Italians," Aziz Kadhim Alwa, head of
the security committee of the province, told AFP.
Alwa said the decision was taken after Italians found Iraqi forces capable
of handling the "province's security after training by the coalition
troops".
Coalition military spokesman Major Charlie Burbridge confirmed the Italians
had certified that the Iraqi forces were "capable of securing the province's
capital Nasiriyah and the entire province on their own".
"At the moment the Italians are in charge of security for the entire
province of Dhi Qar, but when the transfer occurs it will also be for the
entire province," Burbridge said, without putting a date on the transfer.
He added that southern Iraq was as a whole moving closer to being "looked
after by Iraqi forces".
Coalition forces in southern Iraq are led by more than 8,000 British troops,
backed by 1,600 Italians and some 600 Australians.
Dhi Qar is on course to become the second province whose security will be
completely handed over to the Iraqi forces, after last month's changing of
the guard in Muthanna, which was under the control of Japanese troops.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has said the entire Italian contingent
-- once the fourth largest in Iraq -- will be pulled out by the end of the
year.
Prodi's predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, strongly backed the US-led war in
Iraq, and sent some 3,200 men to Nasiriyah. Their numbers were slimmed down
in September 2005 and again in January this year.
southern province of Dhi Qar from Italian troops, who are in the course of
withdrawing from Iraq, an Iraqi official said Sunday.
"In the coming days of this month, the security of the province will be
handed over to the Iraqi forces by the Italians," Aziz Kadhim Alwa, head of
the security committee of the province, told AFP.
Alwa said the decision was taken after Italians found Iraqi forces capable
of handling the "province's security after training by the coalition
troops".
Coalition military spokesman Major Charlie Burbridge confirmed the Italians
had certified that the Iraqi forces were "capable of securing the province's
capital Nasiriyah and the entire province on their own".
"At the moment the Italians are in charge of security for the entire
province of Dhi Qar, but when the transfer occurs it will also be for the
entire province," Burbridge said, without putting a date on the transfer.
He added that southern Iraq was as a whole moving closer to being "looked
after by Iraqi forces".
Coalition forces in southern Iraq are led by more than 8,000 British troops,
backed by 1,600 Italians and some 600 Australians.
Dhi Qar is on course to become the second province whose security will be
completely handed over to the Iraqi forces, after last month's changing of
the guard in Muthanna, which was under the control of Japanese troops.
Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi has said the entire Italian contingent
-- once the fourth largest in Iraq -- will be pulled out by the end of the
year.
Prodi's predecessor, Silvio Berlusconi, strongly backed the US-led war in
Iraq, and sent some 3,200 men to Nasiriyah. Their numbers were slimmed down
in September 2005 and again in January this year.