Maliki: Iraq gained independence with end of US combat role

Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said on Tuesday Iraq had gained independence with the end of US combat operations and that its security forces would now deal with all threats, whether domestic or from abroad.

"Iraq today is sovereign and independent," Maliki told Iraqis in a televised address to mark the US military's transition into a force that assists and advises rather than leads the fight against a Sunni Islamist insurgency and Shi'ite militia. "Our security forces will take the lead in ensuring security and safeguarding the country and removing all threats that the country has to weather, internally or externally," Maliki said. (Reuters)