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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, April 15, 2003

Iraqi Army's Western Anbar Command Surrenders

The commander of the Iraqi army's Anbar sector command, who led 16,000 troops with control extending to the Syrian border, surrendered to US forces, an AFP reporter witnessed.


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General Mohammed Jarawi, the commander of the Iraqi army's Anbar sector command, who led 16,000 troops with control extending to the Syrian border, surrendered to US forces, an AFP reporter witnessed.

US Colonel Curtis Pottss, commander of the 4th Brigade of the US 3rd Infantry Division, told the general: "Now is the time to rebuild Iraq and turn over the country to the Iraqi people."

Potts gave Jarawi and his brigadier cigars after the signing, in what he called a gesture to the Iraqi general's professionalism.

"I was honoured to represent coalition forces and the United States, and humbled because as I looked across the table I saw a professional soldier who was doing what was right for his nation, for the country of Iraq and for his people," he told AFP.

"It was not easy for him. It was humbling for me that he had the courage to do that."

After the ceremony, Jarawi told the US colonel: "We ask you to try to secure the Iraqi people." Potts replied, "That's the plan, and that's what we are here for."

Potts said that US forces would now move through the area to put out of service the hundreds of tanks, armoured personnel carriers and other vehicles belonging to the Anbar command, but stressed they would not be destroyed.

He said that they would simply be disabled so that they could be used again once the country had been stabilised.

"There are no more uniformed Iraqi military that were under his control and his command (who are) resisting," Potts told AFP, stressing that the area towards the Syrian border could still hold paramilitaries and special Republican Guard forces.

"A lot of his soldiers deserted once the war started. There's not a lot of his soldiers left," Potts said.

Source: agencies


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