Army will respond to armed men – Chief of Staff

  NAJAF / IraqiNews.com: Following his meeting with Grand Ayatollah Sayyid Ali al-Sistani in Najaf today, the Iraqi Army Chief of Staff, Babakir Zebari said that security forces “will encounter anyone who would carry an arm against them.” “This includes those who target civilians or commit acts that violate the law,” Zebari said in a press conference in Najaf. “The army aims at building a modern developed state with a strong infrastructure,” he added. “The army is working to preserve security and peace, and to spread freedom throughout Iraq,” he noted. “The Iraqi army is capable alone of preserving peace and order in Iraq, but having coalition forces in the country until 2012 would enable us to coordinate with them regarding many issues,” he asserted. MH (P) / SS 2