Baghdad, May 23, SPA -- AT LEAST 17 IRAQIS WERE KILLED INATTACKS IN IRAQ ON TUESDAY, MOST OF THEM IN DRIVE-BYSHOOTINGS IN THREE PROVINCES NORTH OF THE CAPITAL, POLICE SAID. THE ATTACKS CAME ONE DAY AFTER IRAQ’S NEW PRIME MINISTER, NOURI AL-MALIKI, AND BRITAIN’S VISITING LEADER, TONY BLAIR, ANNOUNCED THAT IRAQI SECURITY FORCES WOULD START ASSUMING FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR SOME PROVINCES AND CITIES NEXT MONTH, BEGINNING A PROCESS LEADING TO THE EVENTUAL WITHDRAWAL OF ALL COALITION FORCES. THEY SAID «RESPONSIBILITY FOR MUCH OF IRAQ’S TERRITORIAL SECURITY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO IRAQI CONTROL» BY DECEMBER. AT THAT POINT, AL-MALIKI SAID, TWO OF IRAQ’S MOST VIOLENT PROVINCES, BAGHDAD AND ANBAR, MAY BE THE LAST WHERE COALITION FORCES MAINTAIN CONTROL. BUT TUESDAY’S VIOLENCE NORTH OF BAGHDAD SHOWED THAT GOAL MAY NOT BE EASY TO ACHIEVE, THE ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTED. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/363229