Developments in Falluja, the question of hostages

The Japanese deputy foreign minister yesterday announced in Amman that he cannot confirm the killing of the Japanese hostage in Iraq, Shusi Koda, and the body found by the American forces will be examined.

While the fate of other three hostages from Poland, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka is still unknown in the hands of their kidnappers, the kidnapped Lebanese child since October 22nd in Baghdad was released after paying a ransom on $ 2000, according to his father.

However, in a new account for the raids launched by the American planes against Falluja city to the west of Baghdad, medical sources said that the number of persons killed in the raid tolled 6 while four were injured, one of them is in a critical health condition.

While witnesses said that the raid targeted a house in the military quarters to the east of the city whose owners already finished their Iftar, one American military spokesman said that the raid targeted what he called weapons sites used by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Meantime, American preparations are underway to launch a comprehensive attack against Falluja and al-Ramadi. One American general expected Iraqi forces to take part in the attack.

The American preparations come amid news of a mediation by the interim Iraqi national council with the people of Falluja to find out a solution for the situation in the city.