Three Americans wounded, Bremer: Iraq's resources are not enough for rebuilding
Iraq-USA, Politics, 8/2/2003

The American occupation forces announced yesterday that rebuilding of Iraq will need 100 billion dollars from abroad for the two next years, at a time when the chairman of the transitional governing council, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, said he will work to put an end for Iraq's occupation and to "establish bases of freedom and democracy" in the country.

Meantime, the US army said that four Iraqis were killed and three soldiers were slightly wounded in several attacks that targeted yesterday the American occupation forces to the west of Baghdad.

In a statement to Sawt al- Arab ( voice of the Arabs) radio, al-Jaafari said that "he will exert his utmost efforts to boost political activity until occupation is ended and bases of freedom and democracy and dealing with negative social and economic aspects are established" in Iraq.

Al-Jafaari, on the other hand, "called on the Arab nation.. in the name of all sects and communities in Iraq, to take part in building a new Iraq and erasing all traces of the former regime which was behind the current catastrophes the Iraqis are suffering."

On the other hand and in a televised interview with the CNBC, the American administrator of Iraq Paul Bremer said that during the two coming years at least "we will be obliged to spend sums exceeding what we get of revenues even if oil production rates resume to prewar levels." He added he does not know the total cost for rebuilding Iraq to enable it stand on its feet again, noting that "this will be more USD 50 or 60 billion and might be 100 USD billion.. these are huge sums."

An American military spokesman said that the American forces positioned to the west of Baghdad were exposed to 8 attacks during the past 24 hours. The spokesman added that they have not seen this many attacks in such a short time, yet. He said that three American soldiers were wounded slightly when a mine went off near al-Habbaneyah camp, the former base for the Iraqi army to the west of al- Falouja which is now occupied by the American army. He also indicated that nine Iraqis were arrested in Falouja, seven of them carrying bombs and two raising pictures for Saddam Hussein.

The US forces were also exposed to an attack in al-Ramadi. Witnesses said that "several shelling were fired at a convoy and this resulted in a fire set in a jeep car and an armored vehicle." The witnesses added that the "attackers fled and then returned back to the site and opened fire from machineguns and Kalashinkov riffles at the American soldiers."

The Polish defense ministry announced yesterday that mortar shelling targeted on Thursday evening a logistic base for the Polish forces in al-Hella in Iraq, in the first attack of this kind against the Polish units, that did not lead to damages or hits.

Previous Stories:
  Wolfowitz says Iraq rehabilitation depends on improved security   (8/1/2003)
  Bush renews sanctions on Iraq   (8/1/2003)
  Saddam's two daughters under Jordanian protection   (8/1/2003)
  Three American soldiers killed in Iraq   (8/1/2003)
  Saddam eulogizes his two sons, vows revenge; occupation forces arrest 12 of Saddam associates   (7/30/2003)

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