Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
RELEASE No. 20061221-02
Multi-National Division – Baghdad PAO
NAJAF, Iraq – The security and governance of nearly one-million An Najaf citizens was officially transferred to Provincial Iraqi Control in a ceremony in southern Iraq Dec. 20.
“Today we are saying no to sectarianism, and no terrorism, and yes for peace, and yes for freedom, and yes for democracy,” said As’ad Abu-Galal al-Taai, the governor of An Najaf province, to a crowd of several hundred Iraqis gathered in the city’s soccer stadium for the ceremony.
In June 2005, Iraq’s Prime Minister announced a joint decision between the Iraqi government and Multinational Forces – Iraq to systematically hand over security responsibilities to Iraq’s provinces to provincial civil authorities under the control of each province’s governor.
“This is a terrific success for Iraq,” said Brig. Gen. Vincent Brooks, deputy commanding general - support for Multinational Division – Baghdad. “It is a major step forward in improving security and strengthening the authority of Iraq.”
An Najaf is the third of Iraq’s 18 provinces to be transferred to Provincial Iraqi Control and is Iraq’s fourth largest province. The coalition transferred full Provincial Iraqi Control to the provinces of Al Muthanna and Dhi Qar earlier this year. Since then, local police and military forces have had full responsibility for security with little coalition assistance.
Read the Rest...
No comments:
Post a Comment