Iraqi PM vows to crush insurgents
Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has vowed to destroy insurgents behind a wave of deadly attacks in Iraq.
Mr Allawi unveiled plans for a new intelligence unit, which he said would "annihilate those terrorist groups".
Hours earlier, a car bomb exploded near the main police station and government offices in the Iraqi town of Haditha, killing at least 10 people.
Police apparently thwarted a second car bomb in Karbala, while northern and southern pipelines were attacked.
Security measures
The prime minister announced the new intelligence unit, the General Security Directorate, at a news conference in Baghdad.
"We are determined to bring down all the hurdles that stand in the way of our democracy... terrorism will be terminated," he said.
The formation of the unit is the latest in a series of steps aimed at wiping out militants behind attacks that have killed hundreds of Iraqis in recent months.
Last week, Iraq announced tough new security measures, including the right to impose martial law and curfews, set up checkpoints and detain suspects.
On Wednesday, at least 10 people were killed and about 40 were injured when a car bomb exploded in Baghdad - the deadliest attack since the new Iraqi government took office just over two weeks ago.
Mr Allawi said he suspected the blast was in retaliation for his government's security measures.
The BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says the prime minister has been quick to try to assert his authority and convince Iraqis that security is his top priority.
Mr Allawi said he would begin a tour of the Middle East next week to open a "new chapter" in relations between Iraq and its neighbours.
Read more here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3896853.stm
Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has vowed to destroy insurgents behind a wave of deadly attacks in Iraq.
Mr Allawi unveiled plans for a new intelligence unit, which he said would "annihilate those terrorist groups".
Hours earlier, a car bomb exploded near the main police station and government offices in the Iraqi town of Haditha, killing at least 10 people.
Police apparently thwarted a second car bomb in Karbala, while northern and southern pipelines were attacked.
Security measures
The prime minister announced the new intelligence unit, the General Security Directorate, at a news conference in Baghdad.
"We are determined to bring down all the hurdles that stand in the way of our democracy... terrorism will be terminated," he said.
The formation of the unit is the latest in a series of steps aimed at wiping out militants behind attacks that have killed hundreds of Iraqis in recent months.
Last week, Iraq announced tough new security measures, including the right to impose martial law and curfews, set up checkpoints and detain suspects.
On Wednesday, at least 10 people were killed and about 40 were injured when a car bomb exploded in Baghdad - the deadliest attack since the new Iraqi government took office just over two weeks ago.
Mr Allawi said he suspected the blast was in retaliation for his government's security measures.
The BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says the prime minister has been quick to try to assert his authority and convince Iraqis that security is his top priority.
Mr Allawi said he would begin a tour of the Middle East next week to open a "new chapter" in relations between Iraq and its neighbours.
Read more here:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/3896853.stm
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