Last 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
30,000 Americans in Saudi Arabia warned
SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Tuesday, December 7, 2004
ABU DHABI – The United States has alerted its 30,000 citizens in Saudi Arabia to the threat of imminent terrorist attacks.
The U.S. embassy in Riyad issued a security warning that Americans remain a target of Al Qaida and related groups. The warning said Islamic insurgents were believed to have targeted housing compounds, hotels, transportation and shopping malls frequented by Westerners.
"American citizens in Saudi Arabia are strongly urged to exercise utmost security precautions and to review the current Travel Warning for Saudi Arabia dated October 27, 2004," the consulate said on Monday.
The warning was issued hours after the U.S. consulate in Jedda was taken over by Al Qaida insurgents, Middle East Newsline reported. No Americans were killed in the three-hour siege.
The U.S. embassy urged Americans to avoid staying in Saudi hotels or housing compounds that are not properly secured. The embassy cited the need for an armed force, inspection of all vehicles and a hardened security perimeter to prevent unauthorized vehicles from approaching the facility.
"Private Americans currently in Saudi Arabia are strongly urged to depart," a State Department travel warning updated as of Tuesday said.
The warning also cited Saudi government facilities as targets of Al Qaida. The embassy has warned that Al Qaida was capable of launching attacks by numerous gunmen in an attempt to penetrate secure facilities.
In April 2004, the United States ordered the departure of non-emergency employees and all dependents of the U.S. embassy in Riyad as well as the consulates in Dhahran and Jedda. Officials said they have not been permitted to return.
On Tuesday, the United States closed all of its diplomatic facilities in Saudi Arabia. U.S. diplomatic sources said some of the facilities would be reopened later this week.
"They want us to leave Saudi Arabia," President George Bush said. "They want us to leave Iraq. They want us to grow timid and weary in the face of their willingness to kill randomly and kill innocent people."
http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/breaking_7.html