Iraq capable of vanquishing enemies – Maliki

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said on Sunday that his country now has forces capable of vanquishing any enemy, stressing the need to preserve the “victory” Iraq has attained on al-Qaeda and outlaws. “Thanks to the intelligence efforts, we have managed to detect many enemy cells belonging to the terrorist al-Qaeda organization and others,” Maliki said during a meeting with U.S. Commander in Iraq General Lloyd Austin and U.S. ambassador in Baghdad James Jeffrey. “The enemies have turned into hiding besieged cells popping up occasionally,” Maliki was quoted in a statement by his office received by IraqiNews.com news agency. The Iraqi premier expressed content over the presence of General Austin, the new U.S. commander, in his new mission in Iraq. For his part, Austin congratulated Maliki over the development that took place in the ranks of the Iraqi armed forces and security apparatus and their capabilities to stand up against challenges. Austin expressed the United States’ support for the Iraqi government’s efforts in order to maintain security and stability in Iraq. AmR (S) 1