The Hindu : Defence Ministry formed in Iraq

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 26, 2004

International

International

Defence Ministry formed in Iraq

BAGHDAD, MARCH 25. The U.S.-led coalition has formed an Iraqi Defence Ministry that will report directly to L. Paul Bremer, the coalition's civil administrator, a senior coalition official said on Thursday.

The Ministry, formed a year after coalition forces invaded Iraq, will be led by a Minister to be announced within a week, the official said on condition of anonymity.

The formation of the Ministry came nearly 10 months after the coalition dissolved the former leader, Saddam Hussein's entire security and defence apparatus.

The Ministry will include a counter-terrorism unit.

Since the war on Iraq ended, assailants have carried out suicide and car bombings that have killed hundreds of civilians. A U.S. soldier died in a bomb blast north of Baghdad on Thursday amid warnings that attacks would likely increase with fewer than 100 days left before the coalition hands over sovereignty. A day earlier, insurgents attacked an American patrol, sparking a gunbattle that killed one U.S. soldier and three rebels.

A 1st Infantry Division soldier died and two were wounded when a homemade bomb exploded near Baqouba, the military said. The soldiers went to the area after Iraqi security notified them that a homemade bomb had been found.

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