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US hands over bases to Iraq ahead of pullout

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-06-14 09:42

BAGHDAD -- The US military said on Saturday that over 100 military bases have been handed over to Iraqi security forces ahead of the June 30 deadline for US combat troops to pull out from Iraqi cities and town as part of a landmark security pact.

A dog looks at Iraqi soldiers during their joint search operation with the US army in the town of Jalawla in Diyala province, 115 km (70 miles) northeast of Baghdad, May 16, 2009. [Agencies]

A US military statement said a joint US and Iraqi committee, tasked with monitoring the implementation of US-Iraq security agreement, highlighted progress achieved in Iraq during its third meeting, including "the return of over 100 bases and the safe and orderly release of over 3,000 detainees" since the implementation of the pact.

Related readings:  Iraqis welcome Obama's pullout plan  Officials: Obama says Iraq pullout by Aug 2010  Iraq willing for quicker pullout  Iraqi parliament rejects draft bill of non-US troops pullout  Iraq, US sign pact on troops' pullout

The committee meeting on Thursday was presided by Iraqi Minister of Interior Jawad al-Bulani, US ambassador Christopher Hill, and top US troops commander, General Ray Odierno, the statement said.

Meanwhile, Iraqi Defense Ministry spokesman, Major General Mohammed al-Askari said on Saturday that Iraq had set up a joint command center with the US military to coordinate operations after the June 30 deadline.

"Minister of Defense, Abdul Qader al-Obiedi opened today the Joint Military Operations Coordination Committee to coordinate US and Iraq's military operations after June 30," Askari said, pointing out that the committee would be responsible for giving authorization to US troops to intervene even after the pullout of US forces from urban areas.

"The principle of the center is to organize the work and to speed up US troops' intervention without violating the law," he said.

Iraqi parliament overwhelmingly voted for the key security agreement which keeps the presence of US military in Iraq for another three years in November.

According to the security pact, the Iraqi government can request temporary assistance from the US forces to support its efforts in keeping peace and stability in Iraq.

Under the agreement, US troops will withdraw from Iraqi cities, towns and villages by June 30, 2009, and to completely pullout from Iraq by December 31, 2011.