Iyad Allawi, the Iraqi Prime Minister, today threatened full-scale military action against Fallujah unless it hands over Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and the militants under his command, who are said to be based in the rebel-held city.
News of the ultimatum came as the Mr al-Zarqawi's terror group, which kidnapped and murdered the British contractor Ken Bigley, uploaded a video on the internet showing two Iraqi government agents being beheaded.
The Tawhid wal Jihad Group posted footage showing the two men's identity cards, which said they were Iraqi intelligence officers. Militants then cut off the men's heads.
Before their murder, the victims said in the video that they were captured on September 28 in Baghdad’s Haifa street, a militant stronghold, while trying to remove the body of a female colleague, Nadia Abdulwahhab Matlak. They admitted to working for Iraqi intelligence and warned other Iraqis to quit the security forces.
"I advise my brothers, the sons of Iraq, who are working for the government agencies, in intelligence, the armed forces and the police to repent," one of the men said.
Today Mr Allawi told Iraq's interim national council: "If Zarqawi and his group are not handed over to us, we are ready for major operations in Fallujah."
Iraqi officials are in talks with Fallujah city representatives to restore government control, which disintegrated after the Marines ended a three-week siege in late April.
Fallujah residents reported airstrikes on the eastern edge of the city yesterday. At least seven people were killed and four wounded in the blasts, according to Fallujah General Hospital. The victims were reportedly traveling in a truck and two cars on a highway outside the city when they came under fire.
Meanwhile US and Iraqi troops have stepped up pressure on Sunni insurgents in Baquoba and Ramadi before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan at the end of this week
Last year, extremists sharply increased their attacks against coalition forces during Ramadan, believing that they win a special place in paradise if they die in a jihad during the holy month.
More than 1,000 US and Iraqi troops launched two simultaneous raids around Baqouba, 35 miles (57km) North-east of Baghdad, to clear the area of insurgents. Several people were detained.
In Ramadi, US troops sealed off streets and searched buildings after days of clashes, residents reported. Yesterday coalition forces raided seven mosques in Ramadi, detaining four people and seizing bomb-making materials.
The Association of Muslim Scholars, a Sunni group suspected of links to rebels, condemned the mosque raids as an example of alleged American hostility toward Islam.
The US Army accused local militants of violating the mosques by using them for military purposes. A US Marine spokesman said American troops provided backup for Iraqi soldiers but did not enter the mosques.
BAGHDAD, Oct. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Contrary to the Muslims belief of the sacredness of the holy month of Ramadan, which starts in two days, Iraqis are afraid that bloody events could take place and may be stronger than last year's Ramadan.
Iraqis have been preparing for this holy month, when they would fast from eating, drinking and sex from dawn until dusk, they would increase the rituals of worshipping, and helping of the poor. Besides, they are supposed to remote themselves from violence, murder, theft, and all the other things that are forbidden by Islam.
However, paradoxically enough, it is expected that violence and killing in this month would not only be committed by the American soldiers, but also by Islamic groups that claim they are carrying the teachings of the Islamic religion in fighting the occupiers and whoever is cooperating with them.
An American official expected there might be a big attack before the start of Ramadan. He said the fear is increasing that the green zone, which houses the interim Iraqi government and British and American embassies, might be the target.
There are some peace gestures in cities that used to witnesscontinuous clashes and killings of Iraqis, such as Samarra, 120 km north of Baghdad, Fallujah, 50 km west of Baghdad, and Sadr City, asuburb of Baghdad.
But the Iraqi people are not sure whether other clashes would take place between the American occupation forces and Islamic groups in those cities or other Iraqi cities, in the month of Ramadan.
"The Americans did not respect the Islamic rituals, the holy places, and the mosques at all, and they did very unacceptable acts that Muslims would not accept, like searching women and raidingsafe houses," said Saeed Al Samurae, a clergyman.
The media office of the multi-national forces in Iraq issued astatement to the soldiers explaining the importance of Ramadan for Muslims. But the statement did not include instructions to avoid provocative acts during this month.
"Ramadan is the month of repentance and forgiveness. So let itbe a chance to solve the problems and guarantee the safety of thepeople, stop the blood shedding of our sons, and let the terrorists and the Americans leave us in peace," said Um Mohamed, a homemaker who was buying food for the family for Ramadan.
"We hope Allah to answer the prayers of the Iraqis in this monthand lift the black cloud over the shoulders of our people, who are exhausted by the wars," said 25-year-old Fuad Rashid, an unemployed college graduate.
"I pray that this month would be a good occasion for dialogue and neglect of arms to stop the blood shed," he added. Ahmed Imad, a photographer, hoped the security forces and thepolice would provide proper protections for citizens by increasing patrols on the streets.
Latif Ahmed, a schoolteacher, pointed out that Ramadan came this year with the start of the school, and encouraged all to leave violence so that the fasting Muslims would be able to do their rituals in peace.
"I will fast in Ramadan hoping that there would be peace and security in the country and that all kinds of violence, killing, and destruction that exhausted our people would end," said Yousif Ahmed, a traffic police officer on the street.
Between hopes and prayers for more security and the expectation for the violence to continue, Iraqis would fast the month of Ramadan this year, living on their hopes.