| Submit your comments on this article |
| Iraq-Jordan |
| Normality returns to Mosul |
| 2005-05-11 |
| Residents breathe sigh of relief as security forces regain control of city rocked by insurgent violence. With local security forces now patrolling the city centre, Mosul residents say violence has ebbed. The US began handing over security duties to Iraqi forces more than a month ago and now local police, army and Iraqi National Guardsmen can be seen patrolling the northwestern city. "The Iraqi police, in cooperation with National Guard forces, are determined to impose security on the city," said police officer Waleed Hussein, 33. Iraqi security forces lost control of Mosul in November 2004 under a sustained insurgent offensive, and have only recently retaken the city. However, Mosul is still seen as a volatile area and there are periodic episodes of violence - such as on May 5, when a car bomb exploded near a police patrol, killing four officers and wounding several others. But furniture seller Shawkee Ommar, 34, told IWPR that he can now stay out until 9 pm, unlike before when insurgents were controlling the city and he had to be home by 4 pm for safety reasons. "Since the Iraqi forces came into the city, it has become quiet and we have led a normal life," he said. "There are explosions now and then, but right now we are living in peace compared with the past." Ziyad Mohsin, an electricity directorate employee, 30, said the situation has been relatively calm since Iraqi forces restored security. "There are some figures outside the city trying to create problems within, but God willing, the security forces will cleanse the area of those people," he said. Mosul residents say although the insurgency has not been completely eradicated, the current situation is much better than it was. |
| Posted by:phil_b |
| #3 ..security forces will cleanse the area of those people... They will if you drop the dime on them. |
| Posted by: Sock Puppet 0’ Doom 2005-05-11 16:43 |
| #2 interestingly enough, in San Diego, the Hillcrest gay resident population has spilled over into Nornal Heights...imagine our embarrassment! |
| Posted by: Frank G 2005-05-11 16:23 |
| #1 "We have Normality. Anything you still can't deal with is therefore your own problem." |
| Posted by: Trillian 2005-05-11 15:57 |