IRAQ: FALLUJAH

Telegraph: US Demotes Saddam General In Fallujah

BAGHDAD -- The general selected by the US marines to command a new Iraqi force in Fallujah has been abruptly replaced after he denied that there were foreign fighters in the insurgent city and blamed America for fomenting the bloody rebellion there.

Maj Gen Jassim Mohammed Saleh, a former member of Saddam Hussein's Republican Guard, was trumpeted by local US commanders as the type of strong man who could pacify the 2,000 gunmen in Fallujah.

But in an indication of American desperation, it emerged that Gen Saleh had been selected even though little was known about him.

One of his main tasks was to ensure that an estimated several hundred foreign fighters were handed over to coalition forces. On Saturday, Lt Gen James Conway, the US marines commander, said the general was ready to deal with them.

Shortly afterwards, Gen Saleh said: "There are no foreign fighters in Fallujah and the local tribal leaders have told me the same.

"The reasons for the resistance go back to the American provocations, the raids and abolishing the army, which made Iraqis join the resistance."