Baghdad plan 'could fail'

2007-01-15 22:54

Baghdad - A new US plan to boost American forces and secure Baghdad will target Iranian and Syrian networks in Iraq, but its success is not guaranteed, top US officials said in the Iraqi capital on Monday.

The plan presented by US President George W Bush last week has "no guarantees of success and it's not going to happen overnight," General George Casey acknowledged.

But Casey, the outgoing US military commander in Iraq, told a news conference: "With sustained efforts this can work."

Putting a calendar on results for the first time, he said that effects of the plan should be seen by mid to late 2007.

US ambassador to Iraq Zalmay Khalilzad said the plan also "seeks to change the behaviour of Iran and Syria, going after their networks in Iraq that are attacking coalition forces and undermining Iraqi security".

EFPs

"We have already taken steps by moving against Iranian EFP (explosively formed projectiles) networks associated with Iranian Quds forces," Zhalilzad said.

He referred to the capture last week by US forces of five Iranians who were detained in northern Iraq and accused of being linked to Iran's elite revolutionary guard.

US officials allege that Iran is exporting so-called EFPs, which are specially shaped charges that direct the blast and are able to penetrate thick US armour.

They are widely used in roadside bomb attacks.

'Rogue forces'

Iran insists the detainees are all consular officials, but Khalilzad said: "They are foreign intelligence agents from Al-Quds force, working to destroy Iraq.

"They are not diplomats. They had no diplomatic status."

The US general stressed that rogue Shi'ite forces believed to be behind much of the country's chronic sectarian violence would be targeted in the new plan.

Khalilzad added: "There will be no sanctuaries for criminals or murderers.

"Military commanders will have freedom of action without

- AFP