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US general defiant on Iraq drive US general defiant on Iraq drive
(10 minutes later)
The new US commander in Iraq has said the Baghdad security crackdown has had some "tough days" but he was confident sectarian strife could be reduced.The new US commander in Iraq has said the Baghdad security crackdown has had some "tough days" but he was confident sectarian strife could be reduced.
Gen David Petraeus was giving his first news conference since taking the command last month.Gen David Petraeus was giving his first news conference since taking the command last month.
He said car bombs had targeted hundreds of Iraqis but noted a "few positive signs" of less sectarian violence. He said military force alone would not be a solution and that some militants would have to be engaged in talks.
He was speaking after the US defence secretary approved an extra 2,200 military police to aid the crackdown.He was speaking after the US defence secretary approved an extra 2,200 military police to aid the crackdown.
'Encouraging signs''Encouraging signs'
Gen Petraeus said it was "critical" to tackle the sectarian violence that has flared between Sunni and Shia Muslims since an attack on a key Shia shrine in Samarra just over a year ago.Gen Petraeus said it was "critical" to tackle the sectarian violence that has flared between Sunni and Shia Muslims since an attack on a key Shia shrine in Samarra just over a year ago.
In recent days Shia pilgrims were killed in a barbaric manner by thugs with no soul, but the pilgrims continue to march Gen David Petraeus
He said US and Iraqi forces must "control the demons responsible for the vicious sectarian violence of the past year - demons who have torn at the very fabric of Iraqi society".He said US and Iraqi forces must "control the demons responsible for the vicious sectarian violence of the past year - demons who have torn at the very fabric of Iraqi society".
He said: "It's too early to discern significant trends, but there have been a few encouraging signs." In recent days Shia pilgrims were killed in a barbaric manner by thugs with no soul, but the pilgrims continue to march Gen David Petraeus
The new Baghdad offensive involves US and Iraqi forces, thousands of whom are already on the ground, sweeping the city for militants and illegally held weapons.
Gen Petraeus said: "It's too early to discern significant trends, but there have been a few encouraging signs."
However he admitted "sensational attacks inevitably will continue".However he admitted "sensational attacks inevitably will continue".
The general said it was "critical" that there should be talks with some militant groups now opposing the Iraqi government.
"There is no military solution to a problem like that in Iraq, to the insurgency of Iraq," he said. "Military action is necessary to help improve security... but it is not sufficient."
The general detailed the measures taken jointly by US and Iraqi forces to secure Baghdad's neighbourhoods.The general detailed the measures taken jointly by US and Iraqi forces to secure Baghdad's neighbourhoods.
He said the aim was not just to secure areas of the capital, but to hold them and help to improve the provision of basic services.He said the aim was not just to secure areas of the capital, but to hold them and help to improve the provision of basic services.
Gen Petraeus said for some Iraqis such services were even more important than security.
The general also denounced as "thugs with no soul" the attackers of Shia pilgrims on their way to Karbala in recent days.The general also denounced as "thugs with no soul" the attackers of Shia pilgrims on their way to Karbala in recent days.
On Wednesday US Defence Secretary Robert Gates approved the general's request for an extra 2,200 military police to support the security drive in Baghdad.
Mr Gates said the deployment would be in addition to the nearly 24,000 combat troops and support personnel approved by President Bush.
The BBC's James Westhead says the new troop allocation will set nerves jangling in Washington.
Congressional sources on Wednesday said Democrats were planning to propose legislation requiring US troops to return from Iraq by the second half of next year or sooner if Iraq's government failed to meet security goals.
The legislation could be tied to the $100bn ($52bn) funding request by the Bush administration for the Iraq and Afghanistan operations, the sources said.