Iraqi Forces Take Security Control of Southern Province
13 July 2006
Iraqi forces have formally taken over security responsibilities of southern Muthanna province from British and Australian forces.
The handover took place at a military ceremony in the provincial capital of Samawa Thursday.
Speaking at the ceremony, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called the event a critical step on the path to gaining total control of the country.
Muthanna is the first Iraqi province outside the mostly peaceful Kurdish region to the north to be under complete Iraqi control since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003.
The White House announced Thursday that President Bush will meet with Prime Minister Maliki in Washington on July 25. The White House said the two leaders will discuss how the U.S. can best support the prime minister's efforts toward improving security, national reconciliation and economic revitalization.
The U.S. military in Iraq said Thursday an Apache helicopter crashed southwest of Baghdad, but that the two pilots survived. The military said the cause of the crash is not known.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military says former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and three of his co-defendants have been on a hunger strike for nearly a week to protest what they say is a lack of security for their lawyers.
Saddam and his co-defendants are on trial for crimes against humanity. Their trial has been adjourned until July 24. If convicted, they could face the death penalty.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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