Arab Summit does not need U.S. forces – official

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: A leading Iraqi official has reaffirmed on Monday that Iraq does not need the support of the U.S. forces to achieve necessary security during the forthcoming Arab Summit, scheduled to take place in Baghdad next March. “Iraq does not need American forces to achieve its security during the Baghdad Arab Summit, scheduled to take place at the end of March next,” Iraq‘s Interior Ministry’s Undersecretary, Major-General Iden Khalid, told the Saudi-based al-Sharq al-Awsat (Middle East) Newspaper in an interview. Maj.-General Khalid, now on a visit to Cairo, to discuss the preparations for the next Arab Summit in Baghdad, said, “Iraqis are taking care of security in their country now. Iraqi forces have been in charge of the country’s security for over a year.” “The security plan, laid down by the Iraqi leadership, covers the achievement of security for all personalities, installations and roads for all persons that shall attend the Summit,” he continued. “The security committee, formed by an order by the Prime Minister, is responsible for the command and control. It will consist of officials from the Defense and Interior Ministries, along with supporting bodies representing the security, intelligence, information and other ministries, in order to achieve success for this great event (Arab Summit),” Khalid noted. The forthcoming Arab Summit is scheduled to convene in Baghdad next March, and Iraq had announced an extensive plan to rehabilitate the streets, buildings, along with five 5-star hotels to accommodate the Arab leaders, expected to attend the Summit. All U.S. Combat troops had withdrawn from Iraq at the end of August last, according to the Security Agreement, signed between Baghdad and Washington at the end of 2008, whilst the remaining 50,000 U.S. troops will withdraw from the country by the end of next year. SKH/SR 1