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Politics : Foreign Affairs Discussion Group -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (131186)	5/3/2004 4:38:45 PM
From: Hawkmoon	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 281500

U.S. in Falluja Turns to Officer Who Defied Saddam May 3, 12:47 PM (ET) By Joseph Logan FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - U.S. Marines besieging Falluja brought in a new Iraqi general with a history of standing up to Saddam Hussein Monday to lead a force they have charged with putting down insurgency in the city. Their initial choice, who outraged victims of the Baathist regime because of past service in Saddam's feared Republican Guard, said he was stepping aside, leaving command of the new Falluja Brigade to former intelligence officer Mohammed Latif. In Najaf, another flashpoint city, U.S. troops fired on suspected supporters of an anti-American Shi'ite cleric who attacked their base with mortars and rocket-propelled grenades. Two Iraqis, including a policeman, were killed and 15 were wounded outside the walls of the U.S. base, local medics said. As U.S. commanders struggle to stamp out open rebellion in two cities and attacks that kill soldiers daily across Iraq, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan said he expected the U.N. to approve some form of multinational force for Iraq once Washington hands back formal sovereignty to Iraqis on June 30. Monday, a U.S. soldier was killed and two were wounded by gunfire south of Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Latif would, if he passes further vetting, lead the Falluja Brigade, a senior U.S. military official said. General Mohamed Jasim Saleh told Reuters he would have no more to do with the unit. Iraq's Shi'ite Muslim majority have accused Saleh of taking part in the Republican Guard's bloody suppression of a Shi'ite uprising in 1991. NEW MAN IN FALLUJA Unlike his predecessor, Latif appears to have anti-Saddam credentials, U.S. military and Iraqi officials said. Latif, an intelligence officer, trained in Britain, was exiled and may also have spent time in prison, a U.S. military source said. He was among a number of generals recently recalled by the new Iraqi defense ministry to try to re-form the army as a whole. But unlike Saleh who is a local man, Latif hails from Baghdad, 50 km (30 miles) to the east, which may not endear him so easily to local people. "I doubt the people of Falluja will cooperate with the new commander because we know nothing about him," local man Abdul Aziz Mohammed said. "He was appointed by the Americans and the (Iraqi) Governing Council...This step was not thought through." Loyal to Saddam, Falluja has become a focus for anger among his Sunni minority since Marines mounted a siege a month ago in which hundreds of people were killed. They have yet to dislodge insurgents, many of whom appear to be drawn from the local community and enjoy wide acceptance among the population. Marine officers concede that some of the Falluja Brigade may well be drawn from the very guerrillas they have been fighting. The arrival of Saleh's force of several hundred uniformed ex-soldiers on the streets Saturday and the withdrawal of Marines from some siege positions to areas further from the city limits was greeted by delighted townsfolk, including masked gunmen, as victory for the Sunni insurgents over American arms. Whatever Latif's credentials, it remains to be seen whether the Falluja Brigade can deliver on U.S. demands that it crush some 2,000 rebels and root out perhaps 200 foreign militants. A U.S. officer said many foreigners may already have escaped. Marines remained in positions on the edge of town closest to areas in the north where fighting has been heaviest and their commanders say they are ready to storm guerrillas at any time. "By no measure do we consider the Falluja campaign over," a senior U.S. military official said in Baghdad. Falluja Brigade members directed traffic Monday. Families were burying relatives pulled from the rubble of homes destroyed in U.S. bombing. A headstone bearing the word "Spies" marked the grave of people accused of aiding the Americans, residents said. HEAVY LOSSES Aside from quelling irritation at Saleh's role in Falluja, Washington has also been trying to counter damage done by the broadcast of photographs showing U.S. soldiers abusing prisoners at Saddam's once notorious Abu Ghraib prison. Seven officers and non-commissioned officers were disciplined over the affair, a senior military official said on Monday. Six other soldiers are facing criminal charges. After April became the bloodiest month for U.S. troops in Iraq with 129 combat deaths, the U.N. appeared to offer help. Annan said a resolution being considered by Washington could authorize a multinational force after June 30: "It's in everybody's interest to do whatever we can to stabilize Iraq." Heavy losses and the difficulties in places like Falluja have not helped Bush's re-election campaign. news.myway.com\|top\|05-03-2004::12:52\|reuters.html