Muthanna police receive new batch of Humvees

MUTHANNA / IraqiNews.com: The police department in Muthanna province on Sunday received a new batch of Humvee vehicles in preparation for the implementation of the U.S. troop withdrawal agreement, according to the local police chief. “More batches will soon arrive in the province,” Maj. Gen. Kadhem al-Gayyashi told IraqiNews.com. “This step has been taken in preparation for the transfer of security responsibilities to Interior Ministry forces,” Gayyashi added. Muthanna, 280 km south of Baghdad, is bordering Saudi Arabia. Its capital is Samawa. It was the first Iraqi province where security responsibilities were transferred from the Multi-National Force (MNF) to the Iraqis. On July 13, 2006 British, Australian, and Japanese forces handed over security responsibility for Muthanna province to Iraqi forces. Prior to 1976 it was part of the al-Diwaniya province. It also includes the ancient Sumerian ruin of Uruk, which is possibly the source of the name Iraq. SS (P) 1