(4 May 2004) SHOTLIST
1. Wide of Fallujah locals celebrating the arrival of the new commander in charge of Iraqi troops in the city, Major-General Mohammed Abdul-Latif
2. Crowd chanting with an Iraqi flag
3. Various of locals celebrating
4. Various shots showing troops from the new Iraqi brigade lining up and standing to attention
5. Various of Major General Mohammed Abdul-Latif (wearing grey suit) walking past journalists and officials, across courtyard
6. Abdul-Latif inside room for briefing
7. Abdul-Latif sitting at desk for press briefing
8. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Major General Mohammed Abdul-Latif, commander of Iraqi force taking control of Fallujah:
"Deployment of the Fallujah Brigade will start in one hour and will continue for three hours.''
9. General Latif seated with Major General Jassim Mohammed Saleh standing on the right
10. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Major General Mohammed Abdul-Latif, commander of Iraqi force taking control of Fallujah:
''The problem of Fallujah began when suspects from outside Fallujah killed four US civilians and there were ignorant and jobless people who mutilated the corpses.''
11. Wide of cheering crowd
STORYLINE
An Iraqi major general on Tuesday took over as head of a new force that will replace US marines in the tense city of Fallujah - subject to a final background check by US officials.
The US military turned to Major General Mohammed Latif to replace Major General Jassim Mohammed Saleh as the likely leader of the Fallujah Brigade after reports emerged linking Saleh to the crushing of the Kurdish uprising against Saddam's rule after the 1991 Gulf War.
Little is known about Latif, a former military intelligence officer.
The top US marine commander in Fallujah said he believed Latif was exiled by Saddam's government for several years and Iraq's foreign minister said Saddam at one point even imprisoned Latif.
During his first news conference in Fallujah, Abdul-Latif on Tuesday condemned the brutal killing and mutilation of four American contractors there last month, which triggered the three-week siege of the city.
However, he said the people of Fallujah collectively were not to blame.
Abdul-Latif also met former officers of Saddam's army, including Saleh, at the headquarters of Iraqi security forces in Fallujah.
US officials have acknowledged they did not vet the force's commanders for the extent of their ties to Saddam before letting the new brigade take over.
The new brigade has taken up positions in the south of Fallujah and is expected to replace marines in the north and start patrols in the city soon.
US officials say the Fallujah Brigade will crack down on hard-core insurgents in the city, even though the force itself will likely include some
of gunmen involved in fighting against the marines.
Since Friday, masked and armed insurgents have moved freely in the city's streets, sometimes standing alongside Iraqi policemen.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
