BAGHDAD, Oct 17: Iraq’s National Police is being completely reorganised and over 3,000 officers have been dismissed, the Iraqi interior ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

Brig Gen Abdel Karim Khalaf told reporters at a press conference in the heavily fortified Green Zone that 1,228 had been sacked for breaking the law while nearly 2,000 more were dismissed for dereliction of duty.

“This restructuring was applied this week to the leadership of the National Police,” Gen Khalaf said. “The headquarters of the two divisions were dissolved and all brigades were brought directly under the commander of the National Police.”

The National Police, which was formed out of the police commandos and the public order brigades, was hastily thrown together in 2004 to address security shortages and became notoriously infiltrated by militias.

“A total of 1,228 have been dismissed on orders of the interior minister for criminal acts and forgery and human rights violations and other issues,” Gen Khalaf said.—AFP