First killed Polish in Iraq, two US killed, detentions of families of the resistance people, US rotates forces
Iraq-USA, Politics, 11/8/2003

Britain has warned that the American- British occupation forces is heading for a "difficult winter" in Iraq. This was at a time when the first Polish man was killed, while two American soldiers were killed in two separate attacks. Also, the occupation forces resorted to arresting relatives of the resistance fighters in order to force them to surrender, a tactic similar to that carried out by Israel against the Palestinians.

Meanwhile, the US defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld announced that the Pentagon informed 85,000 American soldiers and 43,000 reserve soldiers that they will be sent to Iraq by the beginning of 2004 in the framework of the operation to rotate the forces positioned in Iraq, which means in general 130,000 soldiers, the total number of forces that occupy Iraq at the meantime. On Wednesday an American military official said that Washington will reduce by one fourth of its forces deployed in Iraq by the fall of the spring of 2004.

In an attempt to tighten the Iraqi resistance, the Washington Times reported that the US forces detained relatives and wifes of those suspected to be part of attacks against it with the aim to pressure them and force them to surrender. The paper noted several similar incidents that took place in al-Khaladeyah area, stressing that these tactics will intensify the situation.

Meantime, one Polish army officer and two US soldiers were killed in several attacks in Iraq that resulted also in wounding four American soldiers. The polish army officer Heronim Koptchick ( 44 year old) was killed in an attack at an military vehicle in southern Baghdad, to be the first polish to be killed in Iraq. The Polish army officer was in a convoy including 4 vehicles, 30 Kilometers to the north east of Kerbalaa in the area under polish control, including five Iraqi governorates inhabited by a Shiite majority.

The Polish President said that Poland "will not change" its strategy in Iraq after the killing of the officer. One American soldier was killed when a land mine went off in a truck in Huseibah area near the border with Syria. Another American soldier was killed and two others wounded on Wednesday evening, when attackers opened fire at an American vehicle near al-Mahmoudeyah, 30 Km to the south of Baghdad.

The position of the American leadership in al-Musil was exposed to a missile attack that resulted in wounding two Americans. One Iraqi translator working with the US forces was wounded during the attack by six Katyusha rockets at a joint check point for the American army and the Iraqi police near Karkouk. One British soldier was killed in a traffic accident in Basra and making the number of British killed in the war 52 since the beginning of the war.

In al-Najaf city, its designated governor by the coalition forces announced on Wednesday a general strike over the lack of security. Mahdi Matar al-Mayali said in a hotel "I submit my resignation," noting "People ask for much and instantly and our capacities are limited."

He said "the governors were appointed without any authorization, just a front for take blame." The governor announced an open general strike in protest for the security conditions and demanded the transfer of the security departments to the Iraqis after the assassination of one judge in the city. The public departments were closed yesterday except for hospitals, schools and the police.

Previous Stories:
  Attacks against occupation, a strike in Najaf; Talibani visits turkey and criticizes Syria   (11/6/2003)
  Two American soldiers killed, a judge assassinated in Musil   (11/5/2003)
  Bush rejects withdrawal from Iraq; Explosions in Baghdad and two attacks in Kerbalaa   (11/4/2003)
  Assafir: Al-Sader press center: the occupation remains an occupation and will be always rejected   (11/4/2003)
  Escalation of resistance; Iraqi killed in attack on deputy governor   (11/4/2003)
  Muqtada al-Sader eager to cooperate: the Americans are guests and peace lovers   (11/3/2003)

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