Iraqi forces to take full control of Muthanna Province - Plus news on other Developments around Iraq

Baghad Iraq
July 9, 2006

During a weekly Pentagon press briefing July 7, Multi-National Force-Iraq Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategy, Plans and Assessments, discussed the upcoming transfer of security of the Muthanna province from Coalition Forces to Iraqi security forces.

“The transfer of security responsibility clearly demonstrates an Iraqi success and signifies a tangible beginning to a new phase in the history of this nation,” said Brig. Gen. Kurt Cichowski.

Muthanna is the first of Iraq’s 18 provinces to be fully transferred from Coalition stewardship to Iraqi security forces administration in terms of security responsibility...
Read this story and other news at MNF-I
(Above and photo courtesy of MNF-I)

Also in the news out of Iraq today...
>>> MensNewsDaily.com is reporting... Iraqi police say car bombs have struck a Shi’ite mosque in Baghdad after masked Shi’ite gunmen killed at least 42 people in a Sunni Muslim area of the city... They say the gunmen set up fake checkpoints and also moved through Baghdad’s Jihad district, checking identity papers and killing people with typically Sunni names...
Read this story in full HERE

>>> TheAdvertiser.news.com.au is reporting... The US military said it had charged five more soldiers over the rape and murder of an Iraqi woman and the killing of three of her family members. Click this story out HERE

>>> AFIS also reported on this... Charges have been preferred against four U.S. soldiers accused of rape and murder in connection with the deaths of four Iraqi civilians in March. A fifth soldier has been accused of dereliction of duty for failing to report the offenses, U.S. officials announced today.

The five soldiers were charged yesterday in connection with their alleged participation in the rape and murder of a young Iraqi woman and the murders of three members of her family. The fifth soldier was charged with dereliction of duty for his failure to report the rape and murder of these Iraqi civilians, but is not alleged to have been a direct participant in the rape and killings, officials said in a statement. Read this story in full HERE