Iraq's MoD hands over internal security to police

Middle Euphrates Operations Command of the Iraqi Ministry of Defence has announced that the eighth Infantry Division of the army will be given 70 armoured fighters, adding that the Ministry of Defence will deliver the interior security file for the police force this year. General Othman Ghanimi, commander of Middle Euphrates told Arabsoday that providing the forces stationed in the north of the city of Babylon with armour will enable them to move faster and improve accuracy in targeting terrorists. Ghanimi added that his forces managed to dismantle a terrorist cell made up of 250 al-Qaeda members, and thwart an al-Qaeda-led invasion in the southern provinces. He indicated that 14 terrorists plotting activities had been arrested based on intelligence, and collaboration with other security agencies. "The ministry has developed a plan to convert the infantry to the mechanism, starting with squad 10 in southern Iraq, squad 8 in the Middle Euphrates, and squad 5 in Diyala. The plan includes adding another infantry squad." Ghanimi explained that handing over interior security to city security forces will enable the defence ministry to control external borders. He confirmed that this year, they will deliver security files in several stable towns to the Interior Ministry and its departments, after providing them with the latest equipment. Middle Euphrates Operations Command, headed by General Othman Ghanimi, oversees the provinces of Diwaniyah, Karbala, Najaf Babil and Wasit. Since 2007, the majority of Iraqi cities have been managed by operations commands formed by the Office of the Commander in-Chief of the Armed Forces.