Coalition authorities on Saturday announced plans to lift the curfew and reopen a major bridge in Baghdad to ease conditions for Iraqis ahead of Ramadan, despite continued violence. Meanwhile, Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz said he was hopeful that American troops would get more money to train Iraqis to assume a greater role in security as they fight resistance forces. “These young Iraqis are stepping forward to fight for their country along with us,” Wolfowitz told reporters at a U.S. garrison here in Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit. “It is a wonderful success story that speaks volumes.” Wolfowitz, who wraps up a three-day tour of Iraq on Sunday, spoke while visiting an island on the Tigris River, across from the complex of Saddam’s palaces in Tikrit, 120 miles north of Baghdad. The compound serves as the main base for U.S. troops in this Saddam stronghold. The area is part of the “Sunni Triangle,” a hotbed of anti-American sentiment and the scene of increased daily attacks against U.S. troops. The military blames a wide specter of Saddam’s supporters, militants, radical fundamentalists and the notorious Fedayeen militia for the attacks. Separately, officials said Saturday that the coalition-backed police chief of the southern Iraqi city of Amarah was shot to death as he left a mosque after prayers. Full Story
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