U.S. commander sees encouraging signs in Baghdad
Source: Reuters
BAGHDAD, March 8 (Reuters) - A U.S.-backed Iraqi security crackdown in Baghdad will take months and "sensational attacks" will continue but there have already been encouraging signs of progress, the U.S. commander in Iraq said on Thursday. General David Petraeus, in his first news conference in Baghdad since taking command of U.S. forces in Iraq last month, said sectarian killings and displacement were down in recent weeks in the capital. "(It's) too early to discern significant trends, (but) there have been a few encouraging signs," he said. He said U.S. and Iraqi forces would press ahead with the plan while "recognising that some sensational attacks inevitably will continue to take place". Petraeus took command of U.S. troops in Iraq last month at a critical time, having been appointed to oversee President George W. Bush's new strategy in Iraq, focusing on halting the daily carnage of suicide bombs and death squad killings in Baghdad. Bush has promised to send 21,500 more troops, mostly to Baghdad, to help the Shi'ite-led government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
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