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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

May 13, 2003
Release Number: 03-05-41


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


COALITION EFFORTS AID IRAQ'S RECOVERY

CAMP DOHA, Kuwait - Coalition forces continue to assist in developing a safer and more secure environment in Iraq. Among recent developments:

AL HILLAH
Marines developed a plan for a security to protect the electrical power stations, substations, and electrical supply warehouses, which are high value targets for both insurgents and criminals.

The Marine Engineer Group continued support and repairs to four city schools. Civil Affairs coordinated the remaining payments to local police and electric departmental personnel. The reconstituted fire department is assisting the Marines in unexploded ordnance identification and removal, as well as transportation of weapons and munitions.

Marines and the Al Hillah police chief have also conducted television interviews to inform the local populace that their police force is operational and ready to assist them if looters and other criminals threaten them.

KARBALA
Marines and civil affairs coordinated the payment to fire department personnel.

The electric department began repair work on the power lines that directly supply Karbala. Medical representatives met with the Karbala Health Director to finish the estimate of funds needed to correct the city's water sanitation problems.

A joint Iraqi-Marine cordon and search of a local farm revealed a weapons cache.

AD DINWANIYAH
Marine forces conducted 11 joint Iraqi-Marine police patrols and manned eight joint-security positions. The local jail opened with joint Iraqi-Marine security with the intent to phase out Marine presence eventually. A large number of stolen goods were located and confiscated, along with ammunition and weapons.

A platoon from Third Battalion, Fifth Marines secured a former regime intelligence building suspected as having been a site for executions.

AS SAMAWAH
U.N. representatives are assessing the foot stocks in Ar Ramaythah and As Samawah, which are reported to have less than two weeks supply, rice and milk.

Marines conducted the first day of a two-day training package for the local police department. Fifty new recruits attended the training along with 10 current traffic police.

AL KUT
Marine Engineering Group and Navy engineers continued runway repairs at Blair Field. The Court is functioning and the entire staff is working and prosecuting criminals. There are six people in jail and awaiting transportation to Tallil and permanent confinement.

AN NASIRIYAH
Marines convinced the city council to create an operating budget for the next three months, to include civil servant salaries and pensions, as well as minimum costs for provision of public services. The budget would be compared with the amount available in the bank's confiscated public funds.

AN NAJAF
Navy Construction Battalion (SeaBees) continued repairs at Al Iman Al Hussein School and Al Hadi schools. The Seabees will replace 50 meters of pipe in the sewage treatment plant to improve the filtering process efficiency. The plant is still incapable of processing more than 50% of the city's waste. GST reported that repairs to the sewage plant could increase the amount of sewage the plant can process and also raise the quality of the treatment.