Iraqi military operations pursue al-Qaida

For the two past days units from the Iraqi army have been searching for what it said are members of al-Qaida organization that resorted more expectedly to the mountainous Hamrin area in north Iraq, south west of Karkouk, after they were harassed by tribes in the central and west parts of the country.

Lt. gen. Anwar Hemma, the secretary of the commander of the Iraqi army in Karkouk said that the Iraqi forces have been since two days carrying out surveillance missions supported by American air cover and backing with the aim to exterminate the gunmen in Hamrin areas which join the governorates of Salah Eddin and al-Ta'mim and along the Tihris river south and west of Karkouk.

The Iraqi military official indicated that these operations will continue for one month and aims at totally exterminating what he called bases for terrorists and dismantling points of their moves and sources of their supplies in these areas.