Saddam fighters 'on their knees'

Attacks on US troops fell after Saddam's capture, says Odierno

A top American general in Iraq says the US army has brought supporters of Saddam Hussein "to their knees".

Major General Raymond Odierno also said he thought there would be a return to "some normalcy" within six months.

"Capturing Saddam was a major operational and psychological defeat for the enemy," he said.

General Odierno commands the 4th Infantry Division occupying an area north of Baghdad up to the oil fields of Kirkuk and the border of Iran.

"The former regime elements we've been combating have been brought to their knees," he said from Tikrit speaking via video link to reporters at the Pentagon,.

He said an important outcome of Saddam's capture had been an increase in accurate intelligence given by Iraqis.

This has enabled US troops to carry out raids on bomb makers, financiers and mid-level leaders of the former regime, he added.

He said there had been a significant decline in the number of attacks on US troops since the 13 December capture of Saddam Hussein near his home town of Tikrit.

"These groups are still a threat, but a fractured sporadic threat with the leadership destabilised, finances interdicted and no hope of the Baathists return to power," he said.