Washington, Sept. 5 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi security forces are unable to take over security in the next 12 to 18 months, said a U.S. independent assessment report disclosed on Wednesday.

    The 37-page report came from an independent commission that was set up by Congress and headed by Retired Marine Gen. James Jones.

Iraqi police cadets parade during their graduation ceremony at Imam Ali Police Academy in the Iraqi central Shiite holy city of Najaf, July 2007. (AFP File Photo)
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    It says Iraqi military forces and police forces show "uneven progress" in terms of capabilities, so the country's security forces can not operate independently in the following 12 to 18 months.

    Jones is set to officially present his assessment to Congress when he attends hearings on Thursday.

    The report is among several independent studies authorized by Congress earlier this year.

    In another report released on Tuesday about Iraqi government's performance on fulfilling political and security benchmarks, the Government Accountability Office, known as "investigative arm of Congress," decided that Baghdad had failed 11 of all 18 goals.

    The two reports came as Congress started hearings to assess the political and military progress in Iraq. The White House is expected to release its own assess report later this month, which is seen to fuel the contention over U.S. troop reduction in Iraq.

Iraqi soldiers secure a road after clashes in Kerbala, 110 km (68 miles) south of Baghdad August 29, 2007. (AFP File Photo)
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