U.S. ACHIEVES SUCCESS WITH IRAQI BATTALION

BAGHDAD [MENL] -- The U.S. military has marked a major success with theformation and mentoring of an Iraq Army battalion. U.S. officials said the successful training and deployment of the 1stBattalion of the Iraq Army's 1st Brigade has been demonstrated inoperations in northern Iraq. The reconstituted battalion, part of the 3rdIraqi Army Division and one of more than 110 army and police battalions,also operates its own personnel, intelligence and logistics sections.