200 arrested in southern Iraq in one year- U.S. commander

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: U.S. forces have captured 200 suspects in the provinces of Missan, Thi-Qar and Muthanna throughout one year, a U.S. army commander said on Wednesday. “With the security agreement signed between the U.S. and Iraqi governments coming into effect early this year, our task will be to provide assistance and support for security forces and to provide advice and experience in the field of reconstruction,” the U.S. official said during a press conference held in Baghdad’s Green Zone, which was attended by IraqiNews.com news agency. “The weapons seized by joint Iraqi-U.S. forces in Missan’s Amara area were Iranian made with production dates that go back to last year,” he noted The weapons included rockets, explosive charges, several bombs, material used to manufacture armor-penetrating devices and mortar shells, he added. In response to a question posed by a correspondent for IraqiNews.com news agency about the implementation of the security pact with the Iraqi government, the commander said that most of U.S. troops have been based outside cities in the provinces of Missan, Thi-Qar and Muthanna for a year. SS (P)/SR 1