Iraq takes over security in second province

NASIRIYAH – Iraq yesterday took control of security from Italian and Romanian troops in the largely Shi’ite southern province of Dhi Qar, paving the way for the coalition forces to head home.

The relatively peaceful province is the second of the violence-ravaged country’s 18 provinces to be handed over to Iraqi forces by the US-led coalition after the July transfer of power in Al-Muthanna province. Prior to yesterday’s handover, 1 860 Italian and 430 Romanian troops were in charge of security in Dhi Qar, of which Nasiriyah is the capital.”Today we received the security file for the province of Dhi Qar which follows the handover of Al-Muthanna,” Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said during a handover ceremony.”We will continue to receive control of other provinces as we manage to get our country back from the hands of the Baath dictatorship,” he said in a reference to the former regime of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.Maliki said stiff “challenges” still lay ahead.”We still have to improve basic services.There are those who work to support terrorists.We tell them that those days are gone,” he said.Maliki called upon the people to join his national reconciliation programme launched in June in a bid to stem the Shiite-Sunni sectarian violence that has left thousands dead across Iraq.”The national reconciliation plan is our sole patriotic option.But there is no room for those who think of marginalising the role of others,” he said.Nampa-AFPPrior to yesterday’s handover, 1 860 Italian and 430 Romanian troops were in charge of security in Dhi Qar, of which Nasiriyah is the capital.”Today we received the security file for the province of Dhi Qar which follows the handover of Al-Muthanna,” Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said during a handover ceremony.”We will continue to receive control of other provinces as we manage to get our country back from the hands of the Baath dictatorship,” he said in a reference to the former regime of ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.Maliki said stiff “challenges” still lay ahead.”We still have to improve basic services.There are those who work to support terrorists.We tell them that those days are gone,” he said.Maliki called upon the people to join his national reconciliation programme launched in June in a bid to stem the Shiite-Sunni sectarian violence that has left thousands dead across Iraq.”The national reconciliation plan is our sole patriotic option.But there is no room for those who think of marginalising the role of others,” he said.Nampa-AFP