By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The Iraqi Interior Ministry said Saturday it launched three tribunals to investigate any crimes and irregularities that could be committed by its affiliate departments and staffers.
The move is in line with internal security forces penal code approved recently by the Iraqi parliament and presidential council, director of the ministry’s National Command Center Major General Abdul-Karim Khalaf told reporters here.
“The new law, numbered 14 for 2008, applies to all policemen and staffers of the internal security and limits the powers of the ministry leaders. It will punish anyone who might abuse power, intentionally damage public property, use public facilities for purposes other than the specified ones, incite rebillion, encourage illegal carrying of weapons, betray classified information or back armed groups,” Kalaf revealed.
“Its provisions go in line with the noble mission of policemen, with a view to preventing any abuse of power or obstruction of justice,” the senior police officer pointed out.
“The three tribunals will have jurisdiction over north, central and south Iraq respectively.
“The verdicts of the tribunals will be reviewed by the Higher Court, based at the Interior Ministry,” Khalaf added.
In related development, Lieutenant General Abbod Kanbar said Saturday there was no time lime of the military operations in line with the Law Enforcement Plan which improved security in Baghdad and its vicinities remarkably.
“The four-phase plan entered its third phase today (Saturday),” Kanbar, the commander of the plan told reporters here.
“The plan made great successes in its first year and led to the improvement of the security situation by 75 to 80 percent.
“The average number of bodies of unknown persons being found by Iraqi security forces went down from 43 a day between November 15, 2006, to December 31, 2006, to just four bodies a day during the last month and half, thanks to the plan.
“The current stage envisages improvement of the public services in the areas that saw growing security stability,” Kanbar noted.
“The plan proved to be successful and effective in the combat against terrorist groups and the organized crimes,” the commander said predicting the coming period to be “decisive in the war against law violators.”
In continued violence, three Iraqis from Al-Sahwa “Awakening” forces were killed by US forces south of the Iraqi capital, Iraqi police source said on Saturday.
The source told KUNA US airborne forces were flying near a checkpoint controlled by Sahwa forces in Jarf Al-Sakhra in Babel province.
The cause of the attack is unknown, however, in addition to the three killed another two soldiers were injured in the area, the source noted.
The source said the firing on the Iraqis might be a mistake, however protests in response to the killings were seen after the attack.
The US military did not comment on the incident yet.
The Iraqi Sahwa forces were assembled to confront Qaeda based groups in Iraq.
In KIRKUK, three policemen were injured in two separate attacks in this northern city of the country, Iraqi police said on Saturday.
Police Director of Al-Aqdiya areas in Kirkuk Brigader Serhad Qader told KUNA that an improvised car bomb in Taseen neighborhood injured two policemen, including the smashing of nearby vehicles and shops.
Meanwhile, an Iraqi police patrol was targeted in Shorja area east of Kirkuk, injuring one police officer, the source added.
A Multi-National Forces (MNF) UH-60 Blackhawk experienced an in-flight emergency which required a precautionary landing in the Iraqi At Ta’Mim Province on Friday, the MNF said Sunday.
In a press release, the MNF said the Blackhawk made a safe landing in an unsecured area and its wingman called for coalition air and ground security forces.
The Iraqi Police from the Sargaran Police District were the first to arrive on scene and immediately secured the area, giving the crew members time to repair their Blackhawk, it added.
“Their security efforts and swift action allowed the safe and rapid recovery of the Blackhawk, its crew, and passengers. This was a most impressive effort by the Iraqi Police,” the statement said.