Fallujah Impasse to Be Decided in `Days,' U.S.'s Says
`Days, Not Weeks'
``We do caution that we are in a mode right now of days, not weeks,'' Senor said of the standoff in Fallujah. Fallujah's fighters, urged to turn in weapons, yesterday gave up only about enough to fill a pickup truck, Conway said. U.S. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt at the Baghdad news conference with Senor characterized what was turned in as ``junk'' and ``trash,'' rather than the heavy weapons the U.S. requested.
``We need to see a better indication of good faith on the part of the negotiators,'' said Conway.
Over the past 24 hours, Marines were attacked twice in Fallujah, according Kimmitt. The soldiers are maintaining a cordon around the city, not allowing people in or out.
Foreign Fighters
Senor said foreign terrorists, members of Hussein's intelligence service, elite Special Republican Guard and militiamen, as well as drug users and other ``serious, dangerous, violent criminals'' are inside Fallujah. Conway declined to say what countries the foreign fighters are from.
``Our concern is that if they're able to escape the cordon here, we'll have to fight them someplace else,'' Conway said.
The U.S. estimated that between 1,000 and 2,000 foreign fighters were in Fallujah before the U.S. military operation there began earlier this month, according to Kimmitt.
In Balad, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, U.S. soldiers raided a suspected safe house for Shiite Muslim al-Sadr-linked fighters and detained ``six targeted individuals and 15 males,'' Kimmitt said.
Baghdad Attacks
In Baghdad, coalition forces were attacked 16 times and 18 suspects were captured in military operations. In Sadr City, a Baghdad slum and stronghold of the cleric, U.S. soldiers raided ``several Sadr strongholds'' and detained five people, Kimmitt said.
Coalition soldiers came under 10 separate attacks over the last 24 hours in northern Iraq. Four Iraqis, allegedly operating an illegal checkpoint and demanding bribes, were killed near Tuz - - between the cities of Baghdad and Kirkuk -- by U.S. soldiers, Kimmitt said. Twenty hand grenades, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher with three rounds and a vehicle with four 155-millimeter rounds were captured, he said.
The U.S. is seeking to ``expedite'' the appeals process for thousands of former officials of Hussein's Baath party who have been denied government or social work jobs under the U.S.-led occupation and reconstruction process because of security concerns, Senor said.
`Days, Not Weeks'
``We do caution that we are in a mode right now of days, not weeks,'' Senor said of the standoff in Fallujah. Fallujah's fighters, urged to turn in weapons, yesterday gave up only about enough to fill a pickup truck, Conway said. U.S. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt at the Baghdad news conference with Senor characterized what was turned in as ``junk'' and ``trash,'' rather than the heavy weapons the U.S. requested.
``We need to see a better indication of good faith on the part of the negotiators,'' said Conway.
Over the past 24 hours, Marines were attacked twice in Fallujah, according Kimmitt. The soldiers are maintaining a cordon around the city, not allowing people in or out.
Foreign Fighters
Senor said foreign terrorists, members of Hussein's intelligence service, elite Special Republican Guard and militiamen, as well as drug users and other ``serious, dangerous, violent criminals'' are inside Fallujah. Conway declined to say what countries the foreign fighters are from.
``Our concern is that if they're able to escape the cordon here, we'll have to fight them someplace else,'' Conway said.
The U.S. estimated that between 1,000 and 2,000 foreign fighters were in Fallujah before the U.S. military operation there began earlier this month, according to Kimmitt.
In Balad, about 60 miles north of Baghdad, U.S. soldiers raided a suspected safe house for Shiite Muslim al-Sadr-linked fighters and detained ``six targeted individuals and 15 males,'' Kimmitt said.
Baghdad Attacks
In Baghdad, coalition forces were attacked 16 times and 18 suspects were captured in military operations. In Sadr City, a Baghdad slum and stronghold of the cleric, U.S. soldiers raided ``several Sadr strongholds'' and detained five people, Kimmitt said.
Coalition soldiers came under 10 separate attacks over the last 24 hours in northern Iraq. Four Iraqis, allegedly operating an illegal checkpoint and demanding bribes, were killed near Tuz - - between the cities of Baghdad and Kirkuk -- by U.S. soldiers, Kimmitt said. Twenty hand grenades, one rocket-propelled grenade launcher with three rounds and a vehicle with four 155-millimeter rounds were captured, he said.
The U.S. is seeking to ``expedite'' the appeals process for thousands of former officials of Hussein's Baath party who have been denied government or social work jobs under the U.S.-led occupation and reconstruction process because of security concerns, Senor said.
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