On June 30th US troops withdrew from Iraq's cities. Iraqi forces are now formally responsible for the security of urban centres.

Nuri al-Maliki, the Iraqi prime minister, called June 30th a day of "National Sovereignty" for all Iraqis. But on the same day, a car bomb exploded in the northern city of Kirkuk killing up to 40 people.

This was a grim reminder of the challenges Iraq is likely to face. Are Iraqi forces capable of maintaining security throughout the country? And what will be the consequences of this first step in the US exit strategy from Iraq?

Hashem Ahelbarra is joined by guests: Tahseen Al-Shekhli, a spokesman of Baghdad Security Plan and Jonathan Morgenstein, a senior National Security Policy Fellow at the Third Way.

This episode of Inside Iraq aired from Friday, July 03, 2009.