Security officials say Iraqi forces ready to over security duties

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: The Iraqi minister of interior and a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense on Saturday confirmed the readiness of Iraqi forces to take over their own security after the withdrawal of U.S. forces from cities later this month. “Preparations by the Interior Ministry to take over security all over Iraq after the U.S. troop pullout by the end of the current month are going well,” Minister Jawad al-Bulani told IraqiNews.com news agency. On December 13, 2008, the Iraqi government signed a long-term agreement with the United States, known as the Status-of-Forces Agreement (SOFA) to regulate the presence and withdrawal of foreign troops in the country after 2008. Under the agreement, a complete troop withdrawal from Iraq is supposed to take place by the end of 2011. The pact also stipulates that all U.S. combat troops must leave Iraqi cities and towns on June 30. Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense, Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, said that Iraqi forces will have an absolute power over its territory after June 30. U.S. forces will be stationed outside the administrative borders of cities, he added. SS (S) 1