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WASHINGTON D.C. (April 28, 2008) - Iraqi security forces fought
and performed well during recent battles against insurgents in the
Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Basra, a senior U.S. military officer
posted in Iraq said yesterday.
"We've had significant achievements in the fight against
criminal groups over the last several weeks," Navy Rear Adm.
Patrick Driscoll, a Multinational Force Iraq spokesman, told
reporters at a Baghdad news conference. "In Basra and Baghdad,
Iraqi security forces have demonstrated bravery and professionalism
and have made great strides in securing those areas where Iraqis
were held hostage by those who oppose the rule of law and commit
acts of violence that endangered innocent Iraqis."
Iraqi and coalition security forces have cleared hundreds of
roadside bombs and other deadly ordnance from the streets and
byways of eastern Baghdad's Sadr City sector, which houses 3
million Iraqi residents, noted Maj. Gen. Qassim Atta, an Iraqi
military spokesman who accompanied Driscoll at the news
conference.
The roadside-bomb removal improves safety and security and also
"alleviates the traffic jams and also provides more freedom to the
citizens to move from one neighborhood to another in Baghdad," Atta
said.
About two weeks ago, Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
directed his security forces to confront illegal militias in the
southern city of Basra. The fighting in Basra then spread to
eastern Baghdad, primarily in Sadr City, the home to thousands of
followers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.
Recent anti-insurgent efforts by Iraqi and coalition forces in
Basra and eastern Baghdad have improved security in those two
areas, Atta reported. The Iraqi government has earmarked more than
$100 million for reconstruction needs in Basra and $150 million for
redevelopment in Sadr City, the Iraqi general said.
Security in Basra has "improved dramatically over the last
several weeks," Driscoll observed, noting the Iraqi security forces
have driven out criminals and have moved into the city's
neighborhoods to ascertain citizens' needs.
The Iraqi Interior Ministry reports that Basra's citizens are
returning to their marketplaces and the city's children are going
back to school, Driscoll said.
Capacity has been expanded at Basra's civil military operations
center. Basra's CMOC team manages reconstruction efforts across the
city and includes Iraqi, U.S., and other-agency participation, he
said.
"This will help facilitate the quick delivery of essential
services, get business going again, and provide basic aid to the
populace," Driscoll explained.
In addition, coalition forces are reprioritizing funding to
accelerate Basra reconstruction projects such as sewage services,
new street lighting, medical care and business incentives, Driscoll
reported. Similar reconstruction operations are taking place in
eastern Baghdad, he noted.
"Once again, this is the process we're hoping for, where
security is established, and then that will allow us to bring in
the services I've mentioned and also let people get back to a
normal life," Driscoll said.
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