Babel to receive security duties on Thursday

BABEL / IraqiNews.com: Local authorities in Babel will receive security responsibilities from the U.S. forces on Thursday, thus becoming the 12 th Iraqi province to see security transferred from the U.S. side, the province’s governor said on Tuesday. “The Babel authorities are ready for the security handover from U.S. forces after they have shown efficient capabilities to carry out anti-terror missions away from U.S. backing,” Salem al-Maslamawi said in a press conference attended by security commanders in the province. “The ceremonies will be a historic day for the province on the road to national sovereignty,” Maslamawi said. Babel, which lies 100 km south of Baghdad, is the 12th province to receive security responsibilities from the Multi-National Force (MNF). The last one was the predominantly-Sunni province of al-Anbar, which received security duties in September amidst strict security measures. AmR (P) 1