Interior Ministry stages exercises on how to maintain security as handover looms

Iraqpress ^ | 06/22/04 | Iraqpress

[Pikamax]

Interior Ministry stages exercises on how to maintain security as handover looms

Baghdad, Iraq Press, June 22, 2004 – The security forcers under the command of the Interior Ministry are staging large-scale exercises in several areas of the capital Baghdad.

The games come a few days ahead of the handover of sovereignty to the Iraqis.

The exercises are interpreted here as a message to insurgents, who have intensified their attacks in the run-up to sovereignty, that the security forces are in control.

Thousands of police, traffic and emergency officers are involved in the exercises during which they are being trained on how to replace the US-led troops once they start withdrawing from the capital.

The interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has vowed to impose tough measures against the insurgents and is restructuring the security apparatus bringing the various forces under his personal command.

Since his government was officially appointed on June 1 there has been a stream of car bomb attacks, a wave of assassinations and incalculable damage to infrastructure.

The new government wants to make clear to the Iraqis that restoring security is its top priority and has sent several signals that it can do the job on its own after the June 30 handover.

But many Iraqis are skeptical, saying that the transfer is not going to be more than a change of name with the occupation forces still wielding tremendous influences in the running of the country’s affairs.

Allawi is under pressure from the head of Baghdad’s municipal council, effectively the city’s governor, to impose a state of emergency in the capital.

Sheikh Mohammed Baqer, the council’s chairman, has said that imposing martial law in Baghdad would lead “to a 70% improvement in security situation in Baghdad.”

Allawi’s interim government, whose 210-day tenure is mainly to prepare for general elections by the end of the year, is considering ways to revive large sections of the former army.

The Americans dismantled the army last year and Allawi has been very critical of the decision.

Iraqi security forces and troops have substantially increased in numbers but they have proven to be no match to insurgents when left on their own.

Also there is the question of whether they will heed orders from their field commanders when the time comes.

Several army units, police contingents and Civil Defense Corps refused orders to attack the insurgents in Falluja and other areas.

Some of them left their positions and joined the insurgents’ ranks.