U.S. ACCELERATES EQUIPMENT FOR IRAQ

WASHINGTON [MENL] -- The United States has accelerated efforts to equipIraqi security forces as Washington handed over authority to a new Iraqigovernment ahead of schedule. U.S. officials said the Defense Department has launched a drive todeliver equipment and weapons to the Iraqi police and security forces. Theysaid that in June, after a delay of nearly a year, the equipment began toarrive from the United States to Iraq.