September 1, 2003	Monday	Rajab 3, 1424

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WASHINGTON, Aug 31: The US is considering forming a paramilitary force in Iraq to increase security, following Friday’s car bomb attack at a mosque in Najaf in which over 100 people died, the New York Times reported on Sunday.

Coalition forces in the country have already held talks with Iraqi representatives. The force would consist of several thousand Iraqi security troops, many of whom served in the army or security services under Saddam Hussein, and it could in future take responsibility for security in Iraq, the newspaper reported quoting sources in Baghdad. Such a force could be mobilised within a few weeks, Iraqi sources said.

The Washington Post reported on Sunday that the car filled with explosives which destroyed the mosque had been parked outside for 24 hours before hand and was probably detonated by remote control, in an attack that was carefully planned according to US security sources.

US forces are to step up protection at holy sites in Iraq in a bid to prevent further bomb attacks. Previously soldiers had kept their distance from mosques and other religious institutions out of respect to religious sensitivities.—dpa