Iraq hopes for full security control by yearend

BAGHDAD: Iraq hopes to have security control of all its provinces by the year-end, the national security adviser said on Wednesday, underscoring the government’s growing confidence in its own forces.

Mowaffaq al-Rubaie was speaking at a ceremony where US-led troops transferred security responsibilities for southern Shi’ite Qadisiya province to Iraqi forces.

The handover puts Baghdad in control of security in 10 of the country’s 18 provinces, all mainly Shi’ite or Kurdish areas.“

“We aspire to reach to the 18th province before the end of this year. God willing all provinces will be under the control of the Iraqi security authorities before the end of this ye”r,” Rubaie said in a speech broadcast on state-controlled Iraqiya television from the Qadisiya capital of Diwaniya.

The growing confidence Iraqi leaders have in handling their own security affairs has been partly reflected in suggestions by Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki that a timetable be set for the withdrawal of US soldiers in Iraq.

The level of US troops is a key issue in November’s presidential election battle between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama. McCain supports the Bush administration’s current strategy, while Obama wants a timetable for withdrawal.
Lieutenant-General Lloyd Austin, the No. 2 US military commander in Iraq, said the handover in Qadisiya was “yet another demonstration by the democratic government of Iraq that it is making progress for providing for all its people”.