Iraq Vows Total Security Takeover By Year's End

Associated Press Sameer Yacoub August 2, 2006 at 11:48 AM
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President Jalal Talabani predicted Wednesday that Iraqi troops will assume security duties for the whole country by the end of the year, even as more U.S. soldiers headed to the capital to bolster local forces struggling to contain violence.

Talabani's optimistic forecast came during a relative lull in the bloodshed wrackingIraq. Police said nine people were slain Wednesday, a day after a wave of bombings and shootings killed more than 70.

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