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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| US approves more troops for Iraq | US approves more troops for Iraq |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has approved a request for an extra 2,200 military police to support the security drive in Iraq's capital, Baghdad. | |
| Speaking to Congress, Mr Gates said the deployment would be in addition to the nearly 24,000 combat troops and support personnel approved by President Bush. | Speaking to Congress, Mr Gates said the deployment would be in addition to the nearly 24,000 combat troops and support personnel approved by President Bush. |
| The extra forces will help deal with an anticipated increase in detainees during the Baghdad security crackdown. | The extra forces will help deal with an anticipated increase in detainees during the Baghdad security crackdown. |
| Top US military commander in Iraq, Lt Gen David Petraeus, made the request. | Top US military commander in Iraq, Lt Gen David Petraeus, made the request. |
| "That's a new requirement by a new commander," said Mr Gates of Gen Petraeus, who assumed command last month, ahead of a fresh push to quell violence in Baghdad. | "That's a new requirement by a new commander," said Mr Gates of Gen Petraeus, who assumed command last month, ahead of a fresh push to quell violence in Baghdad. |
| 'Positive signs' | 'Positive signs' |
| Mr Gates also said he was not surprised that Sunni insurgents have launched increased attacks in recent days. | Mr Gates also said he was not surprised that Sunni insurgents have launched increased attacks in recent days. |
| "I think that we expected that there would be in the short-term an increase in violence as the surge began to make itself felt," Mr Gates said, adding there were other "very preliminary positive signs" the security plan was working. | "I think that we expected that there would be in the short-term an increase in violence as the surge began to make itself felt," Mr Gates said, adding there were other "very preliminary positive signs" the security plan was working. |
| The new offensive involves US and Iraqi forces, thousands of whom are already on the ground, sweeping Baghdad for militants and illegally held weapons, US military officials say. | The new offensive involves US and Iraqi forces, thousands of whom are already on the ground, sweeping Baghdad for militants and illegally held weapons, US military officials say. |
| Gen Petraeus is overseeing the deployment of more American troops because of the failure so far of Iraqi units to deal with the sectarian violence. | Gen Petraeus is overseeing the deployment of more American troops because of the failure so far of Iraqi units to deal with the sectarian violence. |
| The BBC's James Westhead says the decision will set nerves jangling in Washington. | The BBC's James Westhead says the decision will set nerves jangling in Washington. |
| Already Democrats have tried unsuccessfully to block what they see as an escalation of the war in Iraq and this will only fuel the already tense debate, our correspondent says. | Already Democrats have tried unsuccessfully to block what they see as an escalation of the war in Iraq and this will only fuel the already tense debate, our correspondent says. |