US turns security for Karbala over to Iraqi forces
{{date|October 29, 2007}}
{{Iraq war}}
[[Image:IraqKarbala.png|thumb|left|Location of Karbala Governorate within Iraq]]
[[Image:Kerbela Hussein Moschee.jpg|thumb|left|The [[w:Imam Husayn Shrine|Imam Husayn Shrine]] is in the city of Karbala]]
[[United States]] forces in [[Iraq]] have today turned over control of [[w:Karbala Governorate|Karbala Governorate]] over to [[w:Iraqi Security Forces|Iraqi Security Forces]] (ISF). It is the eighth of 18 provinces to be returned to local control since the US-led invasion in 2003.

Iraqi Prime Minister [[w:Nouri Maliki|Nouri Maliki]] spoke at the handover ceremony, which took place a at sports stadium in the city of [[w:Karbala|Karbala]]. "Allow me to say that we are late, very late, to reconstruct, to rebuild our forces for reasons that I do not want to mention here," he said.

Reaching out to those who have left the [[w:Iraqi insurgency|Iraqi insurgency]] and turned against [[w:Al-Qaeda in Iraq|Al-Qaeda in Iraq]], Maliki said: "We welcome those returning from committing wrongs who wish to correct their course and actions to participate in building Iraq."

The governor of Karbala praised the efforts of the ISF to take over command.

In a joint press release, General [[w:David Petraeus|David Petraeus]] and Ambassador [[w:Ryan Crocker|Ryan Crocker]] said, "Iraqi Security Forces in Karbala have been successfully operating independently, maintaining their own security for the past three months.  Working with local government officials, they have demonstrated their readiness to assume responsibility for the province.  Today this responsibility is theirs."

{{haveyoursay}}
== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSKHA933952
|title=Iraqis take control of security in 8th province
|author=
|pub=Reuters
|date=October 29, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7066886.stm
|title=US hands over Karbala to Iraqis
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=October 29, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.alsumaria.tv/en/Iraq-News/1-9423-Iraq-takes-over-security-command-in-Karbala.html
|title=Iraq takes over security command in Karbala
|author=
|pub=Alsumaria
|date=October 29, 2007}}
*{{source-pr|url=http://www.centcom.mil/sites/uscentcom2/Lists/Current%20Press%20Releases/DispForm.aspx?ID=5738&Source=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecentcom%2Emil%2Fsites%2Fuscentcom2%2FLists%2FPress%2520Releases%2FCurrent%2520Releases%2Easpx
|title=Joint Statement by Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker and General H. Petraeus on the Transfer of Security Responsibility for Karbala Province
|pub=United States Central Command
|date=October 29, 2007}}

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[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Iraq War]]
[[Category:Middle East]]
[[Category:Iraq]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Al-Qaeda]]
Location of Karbala Governorate within Iraq
Imam Husayn Shrine is in the city of Karbala
United States forces in Iraq have today turned over control of Karbala Governorate over to Iraqi Security Forces (ISF). It is the eighth of 18 provinces to be returned to local control since the US-led invasion in 2003.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki spoke at the handover ceremony, which took place a at sports stadium in the city of Karbala. "Allow me to say that we are late, very late, to reconstruct, to rebuild our forces for reasons that I do not want to mention here," he said.

Reaching out to those who have left the Iraqi insurgency and turned against Al-Qaeda in Iraq, Maliki said: "We welcome those returning from committing wrongs who wish to correct their course and actions to participate in building Iraq."

The governor of Karbala praised the efforts of the ISF to take over command.

In a joint press release, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker said, "Iraqi Security Forces in Karbala have been successfully operating independently, maintaining their own security for the past three months.  Working with local government officials, they have demonstrated their readiness to assume responsibility for the province.  Today this responsibility is theirs."
Politics and conflicts Iraq War Middle East Iraq United States Al-Qaeda