WASHINGTON (Hisham Melhem)
Al-Qaeda's activities in Iraq have declined and the organization's leadership may shift from Iraq to Somalia, United States chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest position in U.S. military told the pan-Arab station Al Arabiya TV in the first exclusive interview with an Arab satellite station.
Despite the evident increase in violence in some parts of Iraq, Admiral Mike Mullen assured Al Arabiya that al-Qaeda's presence has decreased in the country and insisted that the pullout of American forces from Iraq is on track.
Violence in Iraq has not abated despite U.S. and Iraqi efforts to control insurgents "The U.S. military is committed to withdrawing from Iraqi cities at the end of this month according to the agreement reached with the Iraqi government," Mullen said in the interview that will be aired on Saturday at 16:00 GMT.
"Iraq's security forces are capable of meeting these security developments," Mulled added and said that the U.S. military and the Iraqi forces have collaborated on a "security plan" to ensure the upcoming transition.
Violence sparked by the U.S.-led invasion in 2003 has calmed since 2007 but since April, there has been a renewed spike in deadly attacks.
Baghdad recently enduring a series of deadly bombings targeting crowded civilian areas, making April the bloodiest month in Iraq since September, with 355 people killed.
However the bombings have raised doubts about security gains in Iraq and the ability of Iraqi security to contain the violence as insurgents have shown themselves capable of carrying out large-scale bombings. Yet both Iraq and the U.S. Iraq have insisted that they will stick to a deadline for American troops to withdraw from cities by June 30.
Mullen refuted these doubts and stressed that "the activity of al-Qaeda in Iraq is concentrated in Baghdad and Mosul," and that Iraqi security forces are able to deal with the remnants of the organization.
"The index of violence in Iraq tends to be low overall, despite the recent incidents of violence…[what is happening now is expected and we are keeping an eye on recent developments," said Mullen. |
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Somalia, Qaeda havan " I am concerned that Somalia will be turned into a haven for al Qaeda leaders and there are many indications of that development " Adm. Mike Mullen, top US military chief Mullen also expressed concern that Somalia has become a hotbed for al-Qaeda due to the weakness of the state after years of civil war and ongoing piracy.
"I think the problem lies in the situation that Somalia as a nation, as many believe, is a loose State in terms of security and thus allows the pirates to continue their piracy as strategy for power and profit," Mullen explained.
"I am concerned that Somalia will be turned into a haven for al-Qaeda leaders and there are many indications of that development."
(Translated from the Arabic by Marwa Awad.) |
