SAMARRA, Sept 30: The Iraqi national guard commander in Dhuluiya, scene of fighting between insurgents and US forces last week, said Thursday that he and his 200 men had resigned because of conflict with US troops in the town.

"I am resigning because American forces are still present in the police station. They do not respond to our requests and do not allow us to defuse the tension" in the small town north of Baghdad, Captain Ziad Ibrahim al-Juburi said.

"A number of innocent Iraqis have been killed because of their presence. This town was calm before they arrived," he said. Ten Iraqis, including three national guardsmen, were wounded on September 23 during clashes pitting insurgents against Iraqi and United States forces.

The national guard said at the time that insurgents had tried to take control of the town's police station before being repulsed by the Iraqi-US forces. Iraqi police have a symbolic presence in the town since US forces set themselves up in the police station, according to people of the area.

According to US military sources, the town is home to members of the Wahabbi sect and is a hideout for foreign fighters fleeing the town of Samarra, 40kms to the west. -AFP