IRAQ: As U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq's urban areas, the country's military has staged a parade in central Baghdad

Record ID: 449525

  • Title: IRAQ: As U.S. forces withdraw from Iraq's urban areas, the country's military has staged a parade in central Baghdad
  • Date: 1st July 2009
  • Summary: BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 30, 2009) (REUTERS) (AUDIO AS INCOMING) MOTORCADE OF PRIME MINISTER NURI AL-MALIKI ARRIVING AT PARADE VENUE IN BAGHDAD'S GREEN ZONE MALIKI SHAKING HANDS WITH IRAQI OFFICIALS AND HIGH-RANKING MILITARY OFFICERS MALIKI ACCOMPANIED BY DEFENCE MINISTER ABDUL QADER AL-UBAIDI LAYING WREATH AT UNKNOWN SOLDIER MONUMENT HONOUR GUARDS AND MILITARY BAND PLAYING AT WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY MILITARY VEHICLE DRIVING PAST DIGNITARIES MALIKI, UBAIDI AND MINISTER OF INTERIOR JAWAD AL-BOLANI SITTING IN REVIEW STAND SOLDIERS CARRYING FLAGS PARADING MALIKI AND DEFENCE MINISTER WATCHING PARADE VARIOUS OF ARMY FORCES PARADING MALIKI AND DEFENCE MINISTER WATCHING PARADE RIOT POLICE PARADING SOLDIERS IN MILITARY VEHICLES PARADING TANKS PARADING VAIOUS OF TANKS PARADING IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER HOSHIYAR ZIBARI AND U.S. MILITARY OFFICIAL ATTENDING PARADE POLICE VEHICLES FLYING IRAQI FLAGS PARADING
  • Embargoed: 16th July 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Defence / Military
  • Reuters ID: LVAG18SOAMRB0VTSSAQD2DKX4DW
  • Story Text: The Iraqi military held a large-scale parade on Tuesday (June 30), staging it in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone government and diplomatic district, viewed by Iraqis as the ultimate symbol of the foreign military presence until local forces took control of it in January.
    The parade was held as U.S. combat troops prepared to leave the last of Iraq's cities on Tuesday, a move hailed by authorities as restoring sovereignty and applauded by Iraqis even as they voice fears it may leave them more vulnerable.
    Before the start of the parade, Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki accompanied by Defence Minister Abdul Qader al-Ubaidi laid a wreath at the Unknown Soldier Monument.
    During the parade, Iraqi forces including army, police and riot police staged marches. Tanks and police vehicles also took part in the parade, which was attended by Iraqi ministers, senior officials and U.S. military commanders.
    Maliki has compared the U.S. pullback to rebellions by Iraqi tribes against the former British empire in 1920.
    Many Iraqis see it as restoring their pride six years after the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein turned into a multi-year foreign occupation.
    Some fear a resurgence of violence without the presence of U.S. forces to police Iraq's cities, although their bases outside remain close enough that they can redeploy if needed.
    Militants appear to have stepped up attacks in the past week, including two of the biggest bombings in more than a year that killed 150 people between them, raising doubts about whether Iraqi forces are ready to handle security.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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