30 November 2004
Iraqi Police, National Guard Take Control of Security in Najaf
Local security forces operating with little U.S. Marine oversight
Iraqi security forces have formally assumed local control of Najaf province, the commanding officer of the U.S. 11th Marine expeditionary unit announced November 30.
"We've been working hard with Najaf's governor and security forces to ensure they have the tools and talents needed to stabilize this city," said Colonel Anthony M. Haslam. "In the past three months, they have demonstrated their ability to keep this province and its citizens safe and secure."
Heavy fighting in Najaf ended August 28. Since then, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), there have been no major incidents there, despite the Ramadan holiday and a reduction in American participation in security operations.
A CENTCOM news release says the "Iraqi police and national guardsmen have conducted several successful raids using intelligence compiled on their own, netting several insurgents and criminals" and "have demonstrated their ability to respond and take control of threats to the province's stability" with little or no U.S. Marine oversight.
The Marines will continue to train and equip the security forces.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=November&x=20041130155729frllehctim0.4032404&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
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