Iraq: Security forces ready to defend country
Iraqi officials insisted on Jan. 4 that the fledgling security forces are ready to defend the country even as a suicide bomber killed at least 35 people and injured dozens in northern Baghdad.
The blast at checkpoint near the entrance to a Shiite shrine in the Kadhimiyah district occurred as top government officials gathered in the Green Zone to mark Army Day.
Today we are more optimistic and hopeful because the new democratic Ira qwill be an example for the region, in building democracy and the state of law," Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said at ceremony in the Green Zone.
"The army will defend the unity, people, soil and sky of Iraq."
Iraqi Defense Minister Abdel Qader Jassem Mohammed said Iraq was ready for that task.
"This day shows that we are going in the right direction and we have the abilities to take care of our security issues," he told AFP after the ceremony to commemorate the 88th anniversary of the Iraqi army.
"We are ready to take over security completely by the end of 2011."
On January 1, the U.S. military turned over to Iraq security control of the Green Zone in central Baghdad - a heavily fortified government and diploma tic area that came to symbolize the American occupation.
In line with an agreement signed in November, the United States has hand ed over several security files to Iraq on January 1 and is due to withdraw entirely from the country by the end of 2011.
The Jan. 4 attack killed at least 35 people, including women and children, and wounded 65 others among them Iranian pilgrims who were taking part in a religious procession.
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