Iraqi President Jalal Talabani said yesterday that Iraqi forces will take over security in all of the country's 18 provinces by the end of the year. US forces currently are responsible for security in all but one Iraqi province.

 

Iraqi leaders have said previously that their goal is to be fully in control of the country's security by the end of 2006, but Talabani's statement to reporters was the most direct on the subject.

 

Talabani did not elaborate, and it was not clear if he meant whether the US would retain an advisory type of role in security or take a fully hands-off approach.

 

US forces are currently responsible for the security of 17 of Iraq's 18 provinces. Only Samawah Province is totally under Iraqi forces at present.

 

(Chinadaily.com.cn via agencies August 3, 2006)