Iraq's Tel-Afer to be free from armed elements

The American army announced that its current military operation which is launched by the American and Iraqi forces in Tel-Afer city near the Syrian-Iraqi borders against gunmen will be completed before the middle of the current month.

An American officer from the third armored devision said that Tel-Afer, which is situated in Ninwa governorate, will be free from armed elements before next Thursday. He added that the operation which is considered the largest since the Falluja attack is taking place with the participation of 6,000 Iraqi soldiers supported by more than 4,000 American soldiers.

The officer said in the first field statements to the American army since the beginning of the operation on Saturday that the gunmen were isolated in al-Saray quarters, southeast of the city, and that they do not control any other areas, adding "They either fled or aredead."

In Baghdad, the American army said in an official statement that the operation which started on August 26th resulted in killing 141 gunmen and the detention of 211 others and confiscation of weapons warehouses.