WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The United States wants Iraqis to take over the security of their country as soon as possible, officials said Friday.
U.S. and Iraqi officials discussed the security situation in Iraq at a meeting between Iraqi Interior Minister Nouri Badran and Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage at the State Department on Friday.
"Mr. Armitage repeated the U.S. support for transferring Iraqi security responsibilities to that country's security apparatuses as soon as possible," said a State Department official, Louis Fintor.
The United States has said earlier that it ultimately wants to transfer all administrative responsibilities to the Iraqis.
The U.S.-led occupation forces in Iraq are currently facing a stiff resistance from some elements within the Iraqi society opposed to their presence.
Badran, who is visiting the United States for talks with senior administration officials, is also meeting CIA officials, reports published in the U.S. media Friday said.
The reports said that the Bush administration has authorized the creation of an Iraqi intelligence service to spy on Iraqi groups coordinating attacks on U.S. troops and civilians working inside Iraq.
