Iraq takes control of military in ‘gigantic’ step

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Coalition forces handed over control of Iraq’s armed forces command to the government Thursday, a move that U.S. officials have hailed as a crucial milestone on the country’s difficult road to independence.

The prime minister takes control of Iraq’s small naval and air forces and the 8th Iraqi Army Division. However, it is still unclear how rapidly the Iraqi forces will be prepared to take over their own security.

“From today forward, the Iraqi military responsibilities will be increasingly conceived and led by Iraqis,” said Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, at a ceremony.

Meantime, the government announced the execution of 27 “terrorists” convicted by Iraqi courts of killings and rapes in several provinces.

The 27 were executed in Baghdad on Wednesday, the government’s media office said in a brief statement. It did not provide any further details.

Despite progress in the shift in Iraqi command, there was more bloodshed with at least 36 people killed across the country Wednesday in car bombs, mortar attacks and drive-by shootings. Police also found 29 bodies.

Early Thursday, a bomb hidden under a parked car near a mosque in northern Baghdad exploded, killing three people and wounding 20, police said.

‘Gigantic' step
Prior to the shift in the Iraqi command, U.S. military spokesman Maj. Gen. William Caldwell called the step "gigantic."

“This is the message I have for the terrorists: We will see that you get great punishment wherever you are. There is nothing for you but prison and punishment,” Prime Minister Nuri al- Maliki said at a ceremony at the Defense Ministry in Baghdad.

The highly anticipated ceremony came five days after it was originally scheduled. The government abruptly called off the original ceremony at the last minute.

The United States and the Iraqis did not publicly reveal many details of the disagreement, other than to say it was more procedural than substantive.

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