November 30, 2003	Sunday	Shawwal 5, 1424

BAGHDAD, Nov 29: The top military commander in Iraq said on Saturday attacks against US troops had fallen sharply in recent weeks, despite figures showing November has been the deadliest month for the occupation forces since the invasion began.

Lt Gen Ricardo Sanchez said anti-American fighters had struck fewer times in the past seven days than in the previous week and put the reduction down to the more aggressive tactics by US soldiers.

“In the past 14 days, we have seen the daily average of engagements throughout the country decline by over 30 per cent,” Gen Sanchez said at a news conference in Baghdad.

“And over the last seven-day period, we’re down to an average of 22 engagements a day,” he said, against as many as 50 a day just a couple of weeks ago. “This decline has been most significant where we have taken the fight to the enemy.”

Despite the decline in attacks, however, figures from military officials show at least 72 US soldiers have died in action in November.

At least four others have died in non-hostile circumstances, making November the deadliest month for US troops since the invasion was launched on March 20.

IRAQIS IN FIRING LINE: Attacks on US forces may be down, but guerillas have begun targeting Iraqis much more aggressively, particularly police and others seen to be cooperating or working with the Americans. Bomb blasts at two police stations north of Baghdad earlier this month killed 17 Iraqis and wounded several dozen.

Those attacks have exacerbated fears among Iraqis that security conditions in their country have still not improved nearly eight months after Saddam was overthrown.—Reuters