Local forces to take over Iraq security

President Jalal Talabani said today that Iraqi forces will take over security of all provinces in the country by the end of the year, which at present is largely in the hand of US forces.

“Iraqi forces will take over the security in all provinces by the end of the year,” Talabani told reporters. Iraqi leaders have said previously that their goal is to be fully in control of the country’s security by the end of 2006, but Talabani’s statement is the most direct on the subject.