14 Americans killed in Iraq, Washington renews warning to Syria, truce in al-Najaf, Spain withdraw

The new Spanish prime minister Jose Thabateiro dealt a strong blow to the American administration which lost 14 of its soldiers in Iraq along the two past days by instructing the return back of the Spanish units to the homeland " as soon as possible."

This coincided with the renewed warning made to Damascus in order to " stop the flow of foreign fighters," in a step which it had said that the Syrian government will "take seriously." The warning also came following violent fighting that lasted more than 14 hours, launched by resistance men, came from Falujja and al-Ramadi, with the marines forces in al-Huseibah city near the border with Syria, resulted in killing five Americans and more than 30 Iraqis.

Meantime, with the continued calm in Falujja where negotiations are expected to be resumed between its leaders and the occupation forces today, a spokesman for Muqtada al-Sader, Qeis al-Khaz'ali announced a two-day truce in al-Najaf in a step that came following three days of the suspension of indirect talks between al-Sader group and the American forces.

Al-Khaz'ali, on the other hand, announced his support for sending UN international peace forces to Iraq, but stressed that the " occupation forces should withdraw from the occupied area and release the political prisoners. Then the war will end." He warned that " if the Americans continue to move in the field," the war of Vietnam will seem to them easy and simple" in comparison to what is waiting them in Iraq.

Thabateiro, however, said in a TV statement as he took his constitutional oath as a prime minister that he instructed the defense minister Jose Buno "to take necessary measures in order to bring back the Spanish forces in Iraq to the homeland as soon as possible." He added "according to our information, it is not expected that a UN resolution will be issued to meet the conditions were had set for our presence in Iraq."