Major developments in Iraq on Friday, the first anniversary of the fall of Baghdad to American forces: - There was violence across the country as U.S. Marines halted their offensive in Fallujah, the scene of bloody fighting with Sunni insurgents this week.
- U.S. forces retook the southern city of Kut, two days after Ukrainian forces abandoned their base under attack from militiamen loyal to the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
- Anti-U.S. Shiite militiamen still held partial or full control over the southern cities of Najaf and Kufa. Officials said it appeared there were links ’’at the lowest levels’’ between the Shiite militia and Sunni Arab insurgents who have long fought U.S. troops in central Iraq.
- With the surge of violence, officials say Gen. John Abizaid, the war’s top commander, likely will keep more troops in Iraq than planned. All or parts of the 1st Armored Division, scheduled to turn over responsibility for the Baghdad area to the 1st Cavalry Division next week and return home, is likely to be ordered to stay.
- A senior aide to al-Sadr denied that the radical Shiite cleric’s militia was involved in the kidnapping of three Japanese and threats to burn them alive. Japan vowed not to withdraw 530 troops after kidnappers threatened to burn the three Japanese captives alive unless Tokyo withdraws its noncombat soldiers. Militants were holding at least six foreign hostages.
- Australia said it would keep troops in Iraq despite escalating violence and a string of kidnappings. Canberra said to ’’cut and run’’ would be bad for Iraq and global security.
- The Philippines said it would keep its troops in Iraq, but Thailand said a further deterioration of the situation may force a pullout of its 443 troops in the southern city of Karbala, scheduled to stay through September.
- South Korea stood by plans to send 3,600 troops to Iraq despite rising violence there, but placed severe restrictions on travel to Iraq after the kidnappings.
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