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| Iraq |
| 2,000 policemen report for work in Baghdad |
| 2003-04-15 |
| More than 2,000 Iraqi policemen reported for work in Baghdad yesterday as efforts were made to curb the looting and vandalism. Following American radio appeals, the officers arrived at the National Police College to register for work. Later American soldiers made their first joint patrol with Iraqi policemen. Two marine Humvees accompanied five Iraqi police cars through the eastern part of the capital. Yet this largely symbolic start to a crackdown on lawlessness has made little difference so far. Baghdad normally has 40,000 police and it will be some time before all of the new volunteers are deployed on the streets. For comparison, Chicago has about 13,700 sworn officers for about 3 million people. Four of the capital's six general hospitals are closed, plumes of black smoke rise across the city, only a handful of shops are open and looters wheel their gains through the streets with apparent impunity. Baghdad's five million people still have no electricity or reliable water supplies. Cars piled high with furniture, typewriters and air conditioning units are common sights. Six young men strode through the al-Thawra area wearing black fencing masks and carrying foils, all pilfered from a gymnasium. Compared with the looting frenzy that followed the arrival of Americans in Baghdad last Wednesday, the wholesale theft has subsided. Capt Frank Thorp, a central command spokesman, said: "We're beginning to see a downward trend in looting." This is largely because Baghdad's obvious targets have been plundered to destruction. Marines have responded by abandoning their armoured vehicles and mounting foot patrols. Two hundred men from 17 Weapons Company were deployed to bring order to the Karrada area. They sealed off several streets with barricades of bricks, protecting St Raphael's Hospital, a small Christian clinic and a nearby Roman Catholic church. The marines gathered in groups of three or four on street corners, their M16 carbines held at the shoulder. Shopkeepers felt confident enough to open for business. Ghazi Said, 65, said he had reopened his small supermarket only because three marines were standing within 20 yards of its entrance. Asked why most of his shelves were still empty, he replied: "I am keeping most of my stock safe at home because I do not know if this stealing will start again." |
| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 Situation: Security: most of country secure, some sporadic fire from "3rd country nationals" mainly in Baghdad. Law and Order: Largely restored, still some looting in Baghdad, though declining even there. People returning to streets. LE by mix of Coalition troops, Iraqi police, volunteers from Shiite mosques, Free Iraqi exile forces, Kurds Health and hospitals: Looting stoped, but after effects include shortages of medicines and equipment. Continued power and water problems. Major "fog of peace" UPI reports 6 of 7 Baghdad hospitals functioning, Brit press 1 of 7 functioning. Also mixed reports on whether coalition military hospitals are available to Iraqis. Power and Water: Mixed reports - Centcom reports progress, BBC reports frustration. Claim that power will be restored to Bagdad in 72 hours. Centcom claims that where water not restored its being trucked in. Food: pre-war household stocks close to used up, reports that local produce flowing into Bagdad again. Distribution of external food aid still limited. Political situation: Again mixed sit on ground, in some areas shiite Imams, tribal leaders, and exiles are de facto "mayors". Not clear what relationship of these mayors is to US sponsored process. First meeting near Nasiriyah, about 50-50 exiles and locals. SCIRI and al-Dawa boycotting, but they offer no clear alternatives or set of demands. Situation in Najaf unclear. Situation in Kirkuk and Mosul unclear. |
| Posted by: liberalhawk 2003-04-15 11:01:27 |