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U.S.: Coalition focused on security, rebuilding
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S. civil administrator for Iraq and a top coalition military official said Thursday that bringing security to all of Iraq remains their top priority. In addition to seeking out possible weapons of mass destruction and responding to reports of mass graves used by Saddam's regime, U.S.-led forces also are "working hard to deliver fuel and humanitarian supplies" to the Iraqi people, said Lt. Gen. David McKiernan, the coalition's ground forces commander. McKiernan and retired Lt. Gen. Jay Garner, the man overseeing Iraq's civil operations, held a news briefing for reporters in the Iraqi capital. Highlights from the briefing• The bulk of the U.S.-led rebuilding effort will focus on southern Iraq, because that region "is a victim of three wars, a rebellion, and absolutely torturous treatment by Saddam Hussein over 30 years," said Garner. "It is in terrible shape. ... Everything in the south is broken." • Two-thirds of Iraqis are receiving clean drinking water, and coalition forces are working to help bring potable water to the remainder of the country. • More than 10,000 Iraqi police are now at work in the country. • Fighters for Saddam Hussein's former regime continue to surface. In the past two days, 12 such "thugs" have been removed from the Ministry for Planning "and we've identified more in other ministries," Garner said. "We will be moving this week and next week." • Crime and looting continue, although the problems are easing. "There is a large number of young ex-military Iraqis that need to be put back to work, to earn a salary, and be part of the solution," McKiernan said. • About 50 percent of Baghdad's electricity needs are being met. • Basra is receiving electricity 24 hours per day "for the first time in 12 years," Garner said. • One-third of Iraqi children are back in schools, and coalition forces are working with the Iraqi Ministry of Education to build more security at schools and draw more students back. • Emergency payments have been made to more than 500,000 Iraqi civil servants to help them keep working, and that number will "more than double by the end of next week," Garner said. • A team of engineers is due to arrive in Iraq in the next few days to begin work on major dams. • Some passenger rail lines are up and running.
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