The Iraqi Interior Ministry on Sunday apologized to the Iraqi people for practices it carried out during the regime of former President Saddam Hussein.
The ministry confirmed its intention to enforce the law and protect the country’s security.
In a statement to mark the 90th Police Day commemorations on Monday the ministry said on its website that "security forces in the interior ministry apologize for the practices that took place during the former regime."
"They were forced to carry out practices that were not their duties."
The dissolved former regime, headed by Saddam Hussein, had utilized all security agencies, including the Interior Ministry, to suppress any opposition, and in particular political opponents to his dictatorship.
The statement marks the first apology offered by an Iraqi institution since the fall of the former regime.
In the statement, the Interior Ministry said, "the police today are the nation’s sons that carry out the duties entrusted to them.”
The ministry said these duties are “to enforce the law and judicial orders away from any political whims, as well as the protection of the lives and properties of citizens, in addition to their various service and humanitarian duties.”
"The Interior Ministry’s male and female police officers, members and employees pledge to stand in the face of anyone wishing to tamper with the Iraqi people and government’s security and safety,” said the Interior Ministry.
Government figures issued in October say that the number of people working in the Iraqi police is around 650,000. However, this number of personnel is “currently unable to secure all of Iraq's urban areas without assistance from the Iraqi army," said a report published in October 2011 from a US watchdog.
