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Iraqi paper welcomes Diwaniya security handover
 BAGHDAD, July 17 (VOI) A Baghdad-based newspaper on Thursday welcomed the security handover of Diwaniya province, describing the transfer as a "blessed step" to restore security and stability to Iraqi cities. Badr, the daily mouthpiece of Badr Organization, one of the main components of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hakeem said in article entitled, 'Diwaniya
self-security,' by Kareem al-Nouri, that the handover has proven the province's ability to assume security responsibilities.On Wednesday morning, Diwaniya received its security file from the Multi-National Force (MNF) during a ceremony attended by National Security Adviser Muwafaq al-Rubaei and Diwaniya Governor Hamed al-Khudari. Bad weather conditions and logistic miscommunication problems between the central Iraqi government and the MNF delayed a power handover of the province, which was scheduled to take place in last June. Diwaniya, 180 km south of the Iraqi capital Baghdad, became the 10th Iraqi province to receive the security file from the coalition forces. In 2002, the population of Diwaniya was estimated at 420,000. The area around the province, which is well irrigated from the nearby Euphrates River, is often considered to be one of the most fertile parts of Iraq, and is heavily cultivated. The town is located on the main rail transport corridor between Baghdad and Basra. For birdwatchers, Diwaniya is a city with a rich bird list, as it has a wide range of biodiversity. Under a main headline that read, 'Tragedy of a province', al-Ra'i newspaper, an independent daily, lamented what it described as the deteriorating situation in Diala province, citing "killings, robberies, plunder, forced displacement and terrorist operations in the province." The author of the article, Sabah al-Ghareery blamed the situation on the central Iraqi government in Baghdad and tribal forces, demanding prompt action to destroy terrorist strongholds and drive out criminals and outlaws from the province. Posted by: Steve White 2008-07-18 |
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