Italian Government Present New Cultural Center

Troops from Italy participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom literally made their mark on the southeastern city of Nasiriyah.The capital of the governate of Dhi Qar, Nasiriyah has long been famous for its museum which collects Abbasid, Assyrian, Babylonian and Sumerian artifacts. Now the city, which lies alongside the Euphrates River, has a new landmark. General Pietro Costantino, commanding officer of the Italian Task Force in Iraq, laid down the first stone of a cultural center that the Italian government has presented to the region's citizens.