.Iraq PM aims to ease security fears
Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, has attempted to ease concerns that a wave of violence will follow the pullback of US combat troops from cities and major towns.
More than 250 people have been killed in a series of attacks in recent days, raising fears that Iraqi security forces will struggle to cope after the June 30 withdrawal.
But al-Maliki said that the planned move showed that Iraqi institutions were ready to ensure the safety of their own people and would be celebrated as "victory day".
"We are on the threshold of a new phase that will bolster Iraq's sovereignty," he said on Saturday.
"It is a message to the world that we are now able to safeguard our security and administer our internal affairs."
Al-Maliki has blamed the recent violence on fighters from al-Qaeda in Iraq, but said they would not be successful if the country remained united.
He made the remarks as parliament met to debate the reasons for the apparently deteriorating security situation.
Caution urged
Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's Sunni vice-president, echoed the concerns of many Iraqis when he urged "our people to be more cautious and avoid, whenever possible, crowded areas unless there is something important".
In a statement posted on his website on Saturday, al-Hashimi urged Iraqi security forces to increase their presence in public areas, markets and mosques.
At least 13 people were killed and dozens wounded in a bombing at a motorcycle market in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad on Friday.
It was the latest in a string of attacks on crowded public areas across the country.
Saleh al-Mutlaq, a Sunni member of the Iraqi parliament and the leader of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front, told Al Jazeera: "Iraqis have a right to be scared, they know very well that the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq will leave a political vacuum in the country.
"This is an irresponsible withdrawal from Iraq, because there is not much change in the political process or the American policy in Iraq adopted by the previous US administration.
"Al-Maliki is not aware of the consequences after the American troops leave the country, he wants to deliver what the Iraqis want - an end to the occupation."
Ayad Allawi, a former Iraqi prime minister, said that the surge in violence was likely to continue unless "drastic measures" were taken.
"Always we anticipated that once there was a drawdown in forces ... the Iraqi institutions - military and police - are not capable of shouldering the responsibility. Nor will the political landscape in the country encourage stability," he told Al Jazeera.
US forces are also to leave all cities and major towns of Iraq by the end of June, including Mosul and Kirkuk, where levels of violence remain persistently high.
A "small number" of US troops would be left in some Iraqi cities after the June 30 deadline at so-called Joint Security Stations to train and advise local security forces, a military spokesman said.
The US military will also continue to provide intelligence and air support to Iraqi security forces.
Al Jazeera
With Iran licking it's wounds, they are likely to lash out at the worthless dogs under their control. I'd expect more fireworks as the Mullahs mush the team out of the hole.
That should help cement ties, right.
More than 250 people have been killed in a series of attacks in recent days, raising fears that Iraqi security forces will struggle to cope after the June 30 withdrawal.
But al-Maliki said that the planned move showed that Iraqi institutions were ready to ensure the safety of their own people and would be celebrated as "victory day".
"We are on the threshold of a new phase that will bolster Iraq's sovereignty," he said on Saturday.
"It is a message to the world that we are now able to safeguard our security and administer our internal affairs."
Al-Maliki has blamed the recent violence on fighters from al-Qaeda in Iraq, but said they would not be successful if the country remained united.
He made the remarks as parliament met to debate the reasons for the apparently deteriorating security situation.
Caution urged
Tariq al-Hashimi, Iraq's Sunni vice-president, echoed the concerns of many Iraqis when he urged "our people to be more cautious and avoid, whenever possible, crowded areas unless there is something important".
In a statement posted on his website on Saturday, al-Hashimi urged Iraqi security forces to increase their presence in public areas, markets and mosques.
At least 13 people were killed and dozens wounded in a bombing at a motorcycle market in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad on Friday.
It was the latest in a string of attacks on crowded public areas across the country.
Saleh al-Mutlaq, a Sunni member of the Iraqi parliament and the leader of the Iraqi National Dialogue Front, told Al Jazeera: "Iraqis have a right to be scared, they know very well that the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq will leave a political vacuum in the country.
"This is an irresponsible withdrawal from Iraq, because there is not much change in the political process or the American policy in Iraq adopted by the previous US administration.
"Al-Maliki is not aware of the consequences after the American troops leave the country, he wants to deliver what the Iraqis want - an end to the occupation."
Ayad Allawi, a former Iraqi prime minister, said that the surge in violence was likely to continue unless "drastic measures" were taken.
"Always we anticipated that once there was a drawdown in forces ... the Iraqi institutions - military and police - are not capable of shouldering the responsibility. Nor will the political landscape in the country encourage stability," he told Al Jazeera.
US forces are also to leave all cities and major towns of Iraq by the end of June, including Mosul and Kirkuk, where levels of violence remain persistently high.
A "small number" of US troops would be left in some Iraqi cities after the June 30 deadline at so-called Joint Security Stations to train and advise local security forces, a military spokesman said.
The US military will also continue to provide intelligence and air support to Iraqi security forces.
Al Jazeera
With Iran licking it's wounds, they are likely to lash out at the worthless dogs under their control. I'd expect more fireworks as the Mullahs mush the team out of the hole.
That should help cement ties, right.
posted by madtom at 12:43 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home