Violence toned down to 90% in 2008 – BOC

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Violence against Iraqi security forces and civilians toned down to more than 90% during 2008 according to reports by security commanders and field military officials all over Iraq, said a senior security official on Sunday. “The results were achieved thanks to the Iraqi security forces’ capabilities to perform their tasks without reliance on the Multi-National Force (MNF),” said Maj. General Qassem Atta, the spokesman for the Baghdad Operations Command (BOC), in statements during a press conference he held in Baghdad on Sunday. “The Iraqi security forces do not need backing from the MNF, particularly during operations targeting armed cells and seizure of large amounts of arms and equipment used by gunmen in their attacks on Iraqi soldiers and civilians,” he added. AmR (P) 1