US troops in joint patrol with Iraqi forces in Kirkuk

(21 Oct 2009) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of US humvees with detectors patrolling Kirkuk
2. Various of joint US-Iraqi military vehicles patrolling
3. Concrete block reading: (Arabic) "Reduce speed"
4. Vehicles driving round it
5. Various of sign on military vehicle reading: (Arabic) "Iraqi partnership joint patrols. Thank you for your perseverance and support"
6. Sign reading: (Arabic) "Quriyah Police Station"
7. US officer shaking hands with Iraqi police officer
8. US military vehicle with bonnet open
9. US soldiers checking engine of their vehicle
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Sergeant First Class Decal, US Army:
"We just got done with a patrol here in Kirkuk city with the Iraqi police to make sure that the streets were safe. We pretty much stay mounted on the whole time."
11. Iraqi police chatting and laughing with US troops
12. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Talib Sabir, Iraqi Police Commissioner:
"We have carried out a joint patrol with the coalition troops in the city of Kirkuk. We didn't face any problems. The security situation is very good. Now we have come back to the police station."
13. Tilt up of US soldier in turret of humvee
14. US humvee moving inside police station joining long line of US humvees
STORYLINE
US troops on Wednesday were seen patrolling the streets of Kirkuk for the first time since their withdrawal from Iraqi cities and urban areas on June 30 in accordance with US-Iraqi security pact.
The troops were on a joint patrol with Iraqi police forces in the oil rich northern city.
The local provincial government of Kirkuk invited the US troops back to the city to assist them with security in the wake of a series of attacks on local police and Iraqi security forces.
The US-Iraqi security pact outlined plans for US troops to withdraw from urban areas by the end of last June and from the entire country by the end of 2011.
However a recent upsurge in violence has raised questions about whether Iraqi forces can take over the volatile country's security.
The questions come at a time when the US is seeking to stabilise Iraq as it draws down its combat forces and plans a full withdrawal by end of 2011.
US President Barack Obama told Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki during a meeting in Washington on Tuesday that he planned to hold to US withdrawal plans.

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