Maliki Announces New Security Plan

BAGHDAD, Jan. 6 -- Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki announced a new security plan Saturday to tame Baghdad's growing violence, saying the effort will be led by Iraqis and will combat militants regardless of their religious sect.

Maliki's speech provided few details about the tactical or strategic changes guiding the new plan but stressed that it was not intended to target one side of Iraq's sectarian war over the other.

"The Baghdad security plan will not offer a safe shelter for outlaws regardless of their ethnic and political affiliations, and we will punish anyone who hesitates to implement orders because of his ethnic and political background," Maliki said at a commemoration ceremony for the 86th anniversary of the founding of the Iraqi Army.

Sadiq al-Rikabi, a political adviser to Maliki, said that during previous efforts the Iraqi security forces failed to coordinate their operations. This time, he said, a single commander will be responsible for overseeing both police and army movements in Baghdad. Rikabi did not name the Iraqi officer who would assume this command.

Read the rest at the Washington Post

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