Militants behead Iraqi soldier:
From correspondents in Baghdad December 08, 2004:
AN Iraqi National Guard soldier was beheaded and his body dumped south of Baghdad, a hospital official said today. "Babylon police found a decapitated corpse belonging to one Iraqi National Guard soldier in Hillah River and handed it over to Hillah (Teaching) Hospital," yesterday, according to Hussein Madlol, an official at the hospital. It wasn't known when the man was slain. Hillah is located about 95km south of Baghdad. No comment was immediately available from the Iraqi National Guard, the force the US hopes will take on an increasingly greater role in maintaining security in this war-ravaged country. Iraq's security forces have been regularly targeted by insurgents, who regard them as collaborators with the US-led coalition.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,11633799%255E1702,00.htmlLast Update: Thursday, December 9, 2004. 0:00am (AEDT):
US, Iraq pledge funds to rebuild Fallujah:
US Navy officials say more than $A158 million has been committed by the US and Iraqi governments for reconstruction in Iraq's Al-Anbar province, which includes the battered city of Fallujah. They say over half of the money is to come from the Iraqi Government during the remainder of fiscal year 2004 and in 2005. "Money continues being added," US navy Commander Steven Stefani said. The fighting, which continues in pockets in Fallujah's south, drove most of the city's 250,000 people from their houses. Commander Stefani says an estimated one in three homes has been damaged "to the point where people should not move into them". Other Bavy officials estimate that between five and 10 per cent of Fallujah's buildings have been destroyed in the fighting, which left blocks of burned-out shop fronts and gutted homes. Estimates on the total number of buildings in the city vary greatly from around 21,000 to 50,000. Marine civil affairs units are making damage assessments throughout the city and progress has been made in restoring some key infrastructure like water and power. No date has been set yet for the return of Fallujah's residents - that decision will be made by the interim Iraqi Government. However, officers charged with reconstruction efforts say the flow of people back into the city will be tightly controlled. Officials say as the city is cleared of insurgents and unexploded ordnance, announcements will be made that heads of families will be allowed back district-by-district to inspect their homes and businesses. "We want to get certain people, particularly the heads of families, to come in and have a look and make damage claims," Commander Stefani said. "The Government wants people to come in and have a look." Addresses on food ration cards issued before the March 2003 invasion of Iraq will be used to verify each family resides in the district being opened. US navy Rear Admiral Raymond Alexander says military personnel will be in the city to hand out damage claims forms. "If their house is damaged, we're going to let them turn in a claim. Their house may be gone, do they want to rebuild or take that cheque and go somewhere else?" he said. Rear Admiral Alexander says residents will be bussed into the city to look at their homes before being returned to Fallujah's outskirts, where they will be allowed to park their cars. "People will be bussed from outside into their neighbourhoods to allow them to get back into their homes, take whatever they want, get back on the bus and take it to their cars and go back to wherever they're staying," he said. Marines stationed in the city warn that violence will likely spike as insurgents hiding among the refugees renew their fight against US and Iraqi forces. Senior military commanders acknowledge it will be impossible to screen out every insurgent trying to return to Fallujah. - AFP
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1260935.htm