One American killed, British headquarters attacked; Abizaid wants Arab, Islamic forces

The commander of the American forces in Iraq Gen. John Abizaid has supported the idea of increasing the number of the coalition forces stationed in Iraq for keeping security and to be from Arab and Islamic countries, stressing the need of founding an Iraqi army of 30, 000 to 40,000 as soon as possible and before the end of the already set period of 2 or three years.

Abizaid statements came in an interview with New York Times at a time when attacks continued against the American occupation forces in various areas of Iraq that resulted in killing one soldier and wounding others.

Meantime, the deputy chairman of the Iraqi police was killed in al-Suleimaneyah city to the north of Iraq when a clash took place between the security forces in the Kurdistani National Federation and gunmen from Ansar al-Islam organization of which four were killed in the fighting.

Abizaid said in the interview that: the US is in need of a greater international support in the coalition forces. The public opinion can not be ignored whether in Iraq or in the Arab world concerning the greater number of forces, which is mainly Americans.

Abizaid stressed the importance of having forces from the Islamic states, noting in particular Turkey and Pakistan. He admitted that this might create political problems to these governments. He continued that these two countries (Turkey and Pakistan) are in need of convincing the public opinion that they are playing a role in serving the international community, rather being an element in the hands of the Americans. Abi Zeid expressed the desire to giving security a greater "Iraqi face" so as the Iraqis themselves to take part in establishing peace in their country, calling for forming quickly Iraqi forces to establish ties with the people and through that to get information about the supporters of the toppled Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, foreign fighters and terrorists. Abizaid announced that the American military and civilian officials will hold a meeting in Baghdad next week to discuss the two issues.