Maliki - Government Resolved To “Decisively Restore Security And Stability” To Basra
Baghdad, Mar 25, (VOI)- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki said that the Federal Government is determined to decisively restore security and stability and to impose law in Basra, which was under pressure targeting its security and stability.
On Monday, Iraqi Premier along with senior military officials arrived in the southern Iraqi city only hours after reinforcements were sent there.An indifinte curfew was imposed on the Shiite predominantly city while schooling stopped in apparent preparations for a large-scale military operation whose announced aim is to bring back security. However, followers of the Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr claim the operation will target them.
A statement issued by Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki addressed to the people of Basra, and read through the official Iraqiya TV on Monday said “Basra has been subjected to a lot of internal and external pressure to its security and stability through attacks targeting Basra spiritual, scientific and social symbols and even ordinary men and women. These illegal acts have been carried out under the cover of religion and politics. The city also has been a scene of operations meant to smuggle petroleum and its derivatives and weapons, drugs and other prohibited materials. ”
The statement added, “It was found that those outlaws received support from people working within the state apparatus, a matter which promoted the spread of crime, murder and kidnapping, making Basra unsafe city.”
Maliki said that “the federal government and in accordance with its obligations to support the local government in Basra is firmly resolved to restore security and stability and to impose law in the city.”
Iraqi officials, on Monday, talked of plans to “restructure the security forces in Basra,” while the spokesman for the Iraqi government Dr. Ali al-Dabbagh denied any plans for the Britons to go down to Basra streets after they handed over the security file to the Iraqis in the southern city.
Britain keeps 4,100 troops in one base located at Basra international airport, 25 km northwest of Basra, after they assigned security responsibilities in the Shiite city to Iraqi forces.
Basra is 590 km south of Baghdad.
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