Gen.: Too soon for a win, but hope in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Jan. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. commander of coalition forces in central Iraq expressed optimism about the recent lull in violence in Iraq but said it's too soon to declare victory.

Army Maj. Gen. Rick Lynch, commander of Multinational Division Central, credited the security in Iraq with the troop surge into Iraq, increased neighborhood patrol bases and the role of the volunteer security force, the Concerned Local Citizens, the American Forces Press Service said.

Lynch cautioned, however, that "we just have to manage this transition very diligently."

Lynch said the average number of attacks on military forces was roughly five per day, down from 25 per day in March, and civilian and military casualties were down since then as well.

Lynch said the integration of U.S. and Iraqi forces at resident neighborhood patrol bases provided Iraqi citizens with a sense of comfort with both the presence of U.S. troops and the capability of Iraqi forces.

The citizens group numbered around 31,000 in central Iraq,and Lynch said the group discovered several improvised explosive devises and weapons caches and played a role in operations targeting several insurgents.

The Iraqi military and police forces and coming to the point that U.S.-led military forces may hand off responsibility to Iraqi security forces as five U.S. brigades are scheduled to redeploy from Iraq by July, Lynch said.