US defends operations in west Iraq as more soldiers die

The US defended its military operations West Iraq, persisting on saying that they succeeded in minimizing the attacks of gunmen, despite the fact that 14 American soldiers were killed in a large explosion, and other four were killed in clashes with gunmen.

The spokesman for the American army said that their operation in al-Anbar governorate, west Iraq, which is within the area where 21 American soldiers were killed in the two past days, succeeded in disrupting activities of the insurgents.

The spokesman, David Aleston, added "we continue to loose persons in the lines of our forces and there are still booby trapped cars," but he alleged that the gunmen no longer have the same freedom of movement that they used to enjoy.

He indicated that 13 attacks by booby trapped cars took place in various parts of Iraq last week.

In Washington, President George W. Bush persisted that there is a progress being attained despite the news on the killing of 21 marines within three days in Iraq, including 14 soldiers killed on Wednesday in the most violent attack since the beginning of war in Iraq by a roadside bomb.

President Bush said that he has "a strategy for success in Iraq" by chasing gunmen and training the Iraqis to be able to achieve their security, and help the Iraqi political leaders to draft the constitution and prepare for the elections.

In Baghdad, the Iraqi prime minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari said that his government is able to control the security situation in the country. He said that his government has a new plan to restore back order, saying "we are in a state of war."