Posted on 05/04/2004 4:18:57 PM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
FALLUJAH: Iraqi Civil Defence Corps troops on Tuesday took up positions alongside US marines on the volatile northern edge of this Sunni stronghold in line with a new security pact designed to end weeks of fighting.
Former Iraqi army general Mohammed Latif escorted about three dozen soldiers into positions next to marines at the railway station, which was rocked by heavy fighting last week.
The move comes ahead of a possible US withdrawal from the city's northern front, which includes the Jolan district, considered the den of local insurgents.
The marines have already pulled out of the city's southern industrial zone, where they had their biggest toe-hold in Fallujah after launching an all-out invasion on April 5 following the brutal murder of four US contractors days earlier.
Latif dismissed concerns about his role in the new security force, known as the Fallujah Brigade, and his past as a top officer in jailed dictator Saddam Hussein's army.
"I am the Fallujah commander," Latif said, answering his detractors in Washington who have questioned his track record and that of General Jassim Mohammed Saleh, who is tapped to lead the brigade's first battalion.
"General Saleh is on my staff," Latif said.
Latif said he doubted any foreign fighters were left in the city, although the marines have demanded the Fallujah Brigade hand over foreigners they blame for leading the fight against them last month that left hundreds of Iraqis dead.
"There are no foreign fighters in Fallujah. Maybe there were some a month ago. Now there are none," Latif said.
Fallujah Brigade members were also said to be positioned in the city centre.
Meanwhile, Interim Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari, who on Monday criticised the plan to hand over any security responsibilities in the city to Saleh, a former member of Saddam's elite Republican Guard, now says he had no issue with Latif, who never served in the elite guard and was said to have spent seven years in jail under Saddam.
Also notice how Latif also says the are no foreign fighters in Fallujah. This is in contrast to the thread linked below which says, "..an entire neighborhood seems to be completely under the control of foreign Islamic fighters, mostly from Syria..."
I can't believe the Marines really buy what this guy is saying.
I don't look for a hand over of heavy weapons in Fallujah anytime soon.
There's plenty more Baathist generals where he came from. Lock him up for refusing to carry out lawful orders, and lineup the next former Saddam crony. Heck maybe we'll get to shoot one or two of 'em.
very very bad news. keep your fingers crossed.
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