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Green Zone turns into a ghost town .. Government: become more secure
On: Tuesday 21/2/2012 9:53
Baghdad / range
became heavily fortified Green Zone in central Baghdad, created by U.S. forces after the overthrow of Saddam's regime in 2003, the area was a center it was also known as the international zone into a ghost town, and after that took place recently under full government control.
In that regard, yesterday told The Washington Post that the army and police recently raided the offices of private security companies that were operating inside the country and urged the institutions and businesses that were based upon to change their places.
said Doug Brooks, President of the International Association for Stability Operations, a trade group representing companies foreign and non-profit organizations in Iraq: "We have achieved a win-win situation where almost impossible for them to stay there." Which was the reason for the transformation of the international zone to the region of Iraq and the increasing isolation as a result. According to a member Mahmoud Othman, the House of Representatives: "What we see now is that they are, somehow, fortifying the area."
cover that region, which lies on the banks of the Tigris River, an area of about 5 miles square. An area dominated by gray than green, as there are a mix of government buildings, homes and villas interrupted by wide streets and narrow alleyways and palm trees dusty.
It is worth mentioning that the United States began with the beginning of 2009 to transfer the supervision of the region to the Government, with Enjoy the country's position more secure.
and authorities have begun as of last spring in the inspection of security companies, and the subsequent tightening the screws on people who Athsalon badges desirable in which to enter and exit from the region, according to Brooks and businessmen are others who were working there.
and now, After the government imposed its hegemony over the place, the newspaper noted the presence of major parts of the government there, including the office of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki and the parliament building. Also live within the region many of the senior officials - where they go to and from their homes, fortified by armed convoys. By the fourth night, the roads become empty, except for police and soldiers who are deployed in the corners of the place. She also said one of the companies that organize group tours to Iraq, it is no longer able to reach the area. Which means a stop to visit some sites such as swords giants Almottagataan in the courtyard of the celebrations in Baghdad.
and reported the Washington Post in this context, Geoff Han, owner of Hentrland Travel British, who had previously asked repeatedly officials to allow collections tourist to enter, saying: "This drives me crazy, because people, especially Americans, ask about these swords
and Haaretz said the government has its causes in this regard from the standpoint of security. They noted in this regard to the attempt, which was aimed at the assassination of Prime Minister in the 28 of last November, when Try one of people break into one of the entrances to the Green Zone severe insurance car SUV loaded with bombs.
However, the vehicle exploded before reaching the offices of al-Maliki, exploding just in front of the parliament building. and after three weeks, the embassy warned American citizens from the threat of the probability of being subjected to kidnapping in the region and in various parts of Iraq.
For his part, said Ali al-Moussawi, media advisor to the owners: "We have to take into account the security measures, note that the region became more secure definitely the past three months."
Al-Moussawi said the Iraqi army is the entity that controls now in operations access to the region, and that reduced the issuance of badges needed to get there. and for private security companies, said al-Moussawi they gained a bad reputation in Iraq for the misuse of firepower, and that the region is safer without them. As for the rest of the business, continued al-Moussawi said: "If you do not not have any business in the international zone, they have to leave the place. "
but the paper has drawn at the conclusion of its report that the reduction of business activity there may send the wrong message to international companies, which may consider whether it will come to Iraq or not. It re-Parliamentary Osman says "When I see things like this business, they leave.
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