The Hindu : International : Iraq to launch massive crackdown on resistance fighters in Baghdad

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, May 27, 2005

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Iraq to launch massive crackdown on resistance fighters in Baghdad

Atul Aneja

Interior Minister confirms Al-Zarqawi has been wounded

MANAMA: The Iraqi Interior Ministry has claimed that it has earmarked a 40,000 strong security force for a crackdown on guerilla fighters in Baghdad following an offensive by anti-occupation forces this month in which 600 persons including American troops, government officials and civilians have been killed.

The Iraqi Interior Minister, Saadoun al-Dulaimi said that a composite new force would draw troops from the Interior and Defence ministries, and will launch an offensive soon.

With the guerillas recently stepping up the tempo to seize the initiative, the Iraqi Government has been making bold statements including a confirmation of earlier claims that the Al-Qaeda head in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had been wounded.

The Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabor replied in the affirmative when asked whether Al-Zarqawi had been injured. "Yes it is true," Mr. Jabor said when asked about a statement posted on an Islamist website. The Minister said that Al-Zarqawi had been wounded five days ago.

Al-Zarqawi's reported injury has unleashed a propaganda war on the Internet, with purported Islamist websites making stunning claims and counterclaims. A little known website had earlier issued a statement identifying Abu Hafs al-Qarni, as Al Zarqawi's interim successor till the time he recovered from his wounds. But the claim has been denied by another better known website that is known to have carried Al-Qaeda messages in the past.

Elaborating on his security plan for Baghdad, Mr. Al-Dulaimi said that the capital would be divided into 17 districts where the guerillas would be tackled separately. Besides, Baghdad would be completely blockaded so that infiltration into the capital can be prevented. The Baghdad security plan would also be applied in other violence-racked cities. There have been recent reports suggesting that the resistance has been "decentralised" and revolves around a network of cells that have been embedded inside the most congested parts of Iraqi towns and cities, including Baghdad. Analysts say that this has set the stage for a classic urban guerilla war.

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