Kirkuk police delegation in Baghdad to discuss security handover

KIRKUK / IraqiNews.com: A security delegation led by the Kirkuk police chief is currently in Baghdad to discuss with Iraqi interior ministry officials procedures related to security transfer to local authorities, a high-ranking police official said on Monday. “A delegation under Jamal Taher is now in Baghdad to discuss issues related to the security responsibilities transfer in Kirkuk,” Maj. Gen. Torhan Abdelrahman told IraqiNews.com. He did not say when the delegation arrived in Baghdad. Thirteen out of Iraq’s 18 provinces have received security responsibilities from the Multi-National Force (MNF), the recent of which was Wassit on October 29. Now Iraqi authorities are controlling more than two-thirds of provinces after more than five years of U.S. control. Only the provinces of Baghdad, Diala, Salah al-Din, Kirkuk and Ninewa are left. “Although our security agencies are not fully armed, we’re ready to receive security duties if the central government in Baghdad agreed,” Abdelrahman said. The oil-rich city of Kirkuk lies 250 km northeast of the Iraqi capital Baghdad. AmR (P) 1