BAGHDAD, Nov. 28 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi authorities continued removing concrete walls surrounding Baghdad's Green Zone on Wednesday for a partial reopening of the heavily fortified enclave as a sign of returning normality.
Chief of Staff of Baghdad Operations Command (BOC), Hamid al-Lami, told Xinhua that BOC "has begun removing concrete blocks for five days surrounding part of the Green Zone, also known as International Zone, in accordance with directives by Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
"Until today, we have lifted 200 concrete blocks, and we will continue the work until we remove the 1,700 concrete blocks within the area under our responsibility," Lami told Xinhua at the scene.
Another week will be needed to finish removing the blocks in his area, he said.
The specific date for the partial reopening of the zone, which had been blocked since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, will be decided by the prime minister.
Deputy Commander of BOC, Mohammed Sabri, told Xinhua that BOC is also "redeploying its forces and taking appropriate security measures to protect the main part of the Green Zone from any possible violation."
Earlier, Mahdi confirmed that he is determined to open the zone after the completion of all security and administrative procedures to ensure appropriate protection for the zone and the diplomatic missions inside.
The heavily fortified Green Zone is housing the main offices of the Iraqi government and many foreign embassies, including the one of the United States.
The roughly 10-square-km zone is located on the west bank of the Tigris River, which bisects the Iraqi capital.
The Green Zone has been frequently targeted by insurgents' mortar and rocket attacks. However, the security situation in Baghdad has been dramatically improved after Iraqi security forces fully defeated the extremist IS militants across the country late in 2017.
