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| Iraq-Jordan |
| US cannot guarantee security in Sunni Triangle |
| 2005-01-26 |
| The commander of U.S. forces in central and northern Iraq said Tuesday that he cannot guarantee the safety of Iraqis on election day, despite months of training Iraqi forces. "I wouldn't begin to say that," said Maj. Gen. John Batiste, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, when asked whether voters would be able to cast ballots safely Sunday. "But Iraqi forces are setting them (elections) up well for success." U.S. forces, about 22,000 soldiers in Batiste's area of responsibility, will be ready to help if violence mars election day. Interim Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi conceded Tuesday that Iraqi forces will need U.S. assistance for the time being. Allawi said Iraq must build up its security forces to confront insurgents. "I will not set final dates" for the withdrawal of international forces "because setting final dates will be futile and dangerous," he said. Allawi discussed preparations for the elections with President Bush, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said. In Tikrit, Batiste said he was particularly concerned about someone setting off a bomb as people walk to polling stations. "It's very possible there will be some of that, the suicide vests and everything," he said. Batiste said he expected the biggest threat to come from al-Qaeda supporters, some of whom back Jordanian-born terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Batiste said those groups may launch large attacks early on election day or on Saturday to scare away voters. There also are worries that some Iraqi security personnel guarding the polling places may be insurgents, Batiste said. He said he expects trouble in particular in Samarra and Beiji, where Iraqi security services are weakest. Nine attacks Tuesday on U.S. and Iraqi forces in Samara were about double the usual number, he said. Violence elsewhere claimed the lives of six U.S. soldiers and nine Iraqis. Among the incidents: Northeast of Baghdad, a U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicle rolled into a canal during a combat patrol near the town of Khan Bani Saad late Monday. Five soldiers from the Army's 1st Infantry Division were killed and two were wounded, the U.S. military said Tuesday. Another U.S. soldier died of wounds from a roadside bomb in Baghdad, the U.S. military said. Three policemen were killed and nine injured in three incidents in Baghdad's eastern Rashad neighborhood. Police fired on insurgents who were handing out leaflets warning people not to vote. Insurgents fired on police who were checking on a possible car bomb. And gunmen fired on Iraqi and U.S. forces responding to a bombing at a secondary school. Assailants fired on the car of Qais Hashim Shameri, secretary general of the judges council in the Justice Ministry. Shameri and his driver were killed. The Ansar al-Sunnah Army, an insurgent group, claimed responsibility. Also Tuesday, an American hostage was shown pleading for his life in a videotape broadcast on Al-Jazeera television. Roy Hallums, 56, said he had been arrested because "I have worked with American forces." Hallums was seized Nov. 1 with Filipino Robert Tarongoy from their compound in Baghdad. They worked for a Saudi company. At least 10 Americans have been taken hostage. Only one has escaped. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |