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Kurdish
Gov't Blocks Roads to Korean Base Town of Irbil
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) has
begun operations to close down routes from Mosul to
Irbil, where the Korean Zaytun Division is based,
out of concern that resistance forces might try to
infiltrate the area as U.S. troops mop up insurgent
forces in the region around Fallujah.
An official with the Joint Chiefs of Staff said
Monday, "The measure was taken as it appears
resistance forces have left Fallujah, which recently
fell to the U.S. military, and re-assembled in Mosul.
If Mosul were to receive a fresh U.S. assault, it
could threaten Irbil, which is only 45 minutes by
car from Mosul."
The official said the KRG had mobilized armed
militia and police and set up temporary road blocks
along National Road 2 and other major roads between
Mosul and Irbil, strengthening security checks of
vehicles and persons.
He said, "We're maintaining our force protection
level at 'amber,' but we are strengthening our
surveillance and patrols like bolstering the
division command room, which operates 24 hours a
day, in preparation for contingencies.
On Sunday, the day after the U.S. military declared
it had completely occupied Fallujah, the security
situation in Mosul began to deteriorate, with
resistance forces attacking a police station,
killing at least six soldiers and wounding three
others.
(Yu Yong-won, bemil@chosun.com )
Digital Chosunilbo (English Edition)
http://english.chosun.com
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