Iraqi troop control 'to spread'

A senior US general has said 75% of Iraqi territory will soon be under the control of Iraqi security forces.

Speaking by video link from Baghdad, Lt Gen Peter Chiarelli said the progress made in building Iraq's new army and police forces had been enormous.

Iraqi forces were currently responsible for security in less than half of Iraq's territory, he said.

By the end of the summer, he said, he wanted to see three-quarters of Iraq under their control.

It is unlikely that the most troubled areas of Iraq would be completely handed over to Iraqi control, particularly parts of Anbar province where the insurgency is at its most active.

Nonetheless the US military is sounding increasingly confident that its efforts to create a new Iraqi army are bearing fruit.

Evolution of operation

The general spoke as Operation Swarmer entered its third day.

This is a large-scale operation conducted by airborne troops.

It is aimed at rooting out suspected insurgent networks near the city of Samarra, north of Baghdad.

Of 1,500 troops taking part, more than half are Iraqi.

But as usual the helicopters and vehicles and air cover are all American.

Gen Chiarelli said troops had encountered little resistance and had uncovered a number of weapons caches.

He said the operation marked an evolution in the ability of combined Iraqi and American forces to operate outside the big cities.