US training commander 'frustrated' in Iraq

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-08-21 00:37

WASHINGTON: The US commander in charge of training Iraqi security forces says the deadly Baghdad bombings obviously represent a lapse in security and that he is ersonally frustrated with the pace of some training there.

Army Lt. Gen. Frank Helmick told a Pentagon news conference Thursday he is not certain he can complete some of the high-tech training - including for Iraq's Air Force - by the time US troops are scheduled to leave at the end of 2011.

He said he does not know who was responsible for Wednesday's bombings, which killed about 100 and wounded 500. Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is blaming Sunni insurgents.