NEWS RELEASE
HEADQUARTERS UNITED STATES CENTRAL COMMAND
7115 South Boundary Boulevard
MacDill AFB, Fla. 33621-5101
Phone: (813) 827-5894; FAX: (813) 827-2211; DSN 651-5894
December 30, 2003
Release Number: 03-12-76
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HIGH-LEVEL BA'ATHISTS SUPPORT COALITION SECURITY EFFORTS
MOSUL, Iraq - Two second-tier Ba'ath Party leaders in northwest Iraq handed over weapons Dec. 29 to Coalition Forces with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault).
The two Farahs, once answerable to the close circle of senior Ba'athists around Saddam Hussein, turned in 48 AK-47 rifles, 59 magazines, and a bag of loose 7.62-millimeter ammunition to Tallafar police.
Also continuing to turn over weapons were fourth-tier Firqa Ba'athists.
The Tallafar chief of police reported that two Firqas turned in one AK-47 rifle each after hearing that Ba'ath Party personnel were turning in weapons. They said they wanted to be helpful, according to the report.
The Tallafar Police Department was hired and trained by the 101st Airborne Division's 3rd Brigade Combat Team (BCT). The two organizations coordinated joint raids and patrols to secure the northwestern region of Iraq.
The 101st remains committed to establishing a safe environment for ongoing reconstruction efforts toward a new, democratic Iraq.
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