Tikrit, Iraq; 29 September 2003 (RFE/RL) -- U.S. troops and Iraqi police today staged their largest-ever joint operations in the city of Tikrit in an effort to detain those responsible for attacks on U.S. forces. U.S. Lieutenant Colonel David Poirier said the raid brought only a partial success because, while four suspects had been detained, "the 12 to 15 we were after" had managed to evade capture.
Poirier said these men were believed to have fired rocket-propelled grenades (RPgs) at U.S. convoys along a stretch of roadway in central Tikrit known as "RPG alley."
Meanwhile, British special representative to Iraq Jeremy Greenstock yesterday said in an interview with BBC radio that the U.S. and its allies could bring peace to Iraq without further international help.
The U.S. currently has 130,000 troops in Iraq, Britain has about 10,000, and 31 other countries also sent about 12,000 troops to stabilize the situation there.
Last week, President George W. Bush appealed to United Nations member countries to contribute troops and money to help with security and reconstruction in Iraq.
Poirier said these men were believed to have fired rocket-propelled grenades (RPgs) at U.S. convoys along a stretch of roadway in central Tikrit known as "RPG alley."
Meanwhile, British special representative to Iraq Jeremy Greenstock yesterday said in an interview with BBC radio that the U.S. and its allies could bring peace to Iraq without further international help.
The U.S. currently has 130,000 troops in Iraq, Britain has about 10,000, and 31 other countries also sent about 12,000 troops to stabilize the situation there.
Last week, President George W. Bush appealed to United Nations member countries to contribute troops and money to help with security and reconstruction in Iraq.