AN NASIRIYAH, Iraq, May 5, 2004 — The Coalition's Italian Task Force opened a new school in Al Musataaq during a ceremony here April 27, according to Combined Joint Task Force 7 officials.

The new school, built by TF engineers, has six large classrooms, toilet facilities, two open areas to be used as playgrounds or for sport activities and a perimeter fence.

Local students and teachers expressed their gratitude to theItalian soldiers, who handed the new facility over to local Iraqi authorities during the ceremony.

This is the latest of several projects the Italians have completed in the Dhi Qar Province since their arrival last summer. Two more schools are due to be rebuilt in the near future.