Iraqi authorities assumed control of security in the southern province of Dhi Qar on Thursday, 21 September 2006, marking the second provincial handover from US-led coalition forces. The predominantly Shiite province, home to roughly 1.5 million people, had previously been under the watch of approximately 1,860 Italian and 430 Romanian troops. Al-Muthanna province was the first to be transferred, in July.
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki presided over the handover ceremony in the provincial capital Nasiriyah, urging Iraqis to support his national reconciliation program, launched in June to reduce deadly sectarian conflict between Shiites and Sunnis. He acknowledged that serious challenges remained, including improving basic services and countering support for armed groups.
Going forward, provincial police will handle day-to-day security, with the national army and police remaining under central government command. Italian and Romanian troops will shift to a training and support role before withdrawing. Italy's center-left government has committed to pulling all its forces out of Iraq by year's end. Romania's president separately asked parliament to recall nearly 200 soldiers.
The handover occurred against a grim backdrop: a UN human rights report released Wednesday counted at least 6,599 Iraqi civilians killed in July and August alone.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in September 2006, in its own words.