Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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US, Iraqi Forces Continue Anti-Rebel Sweep in Northern Iraq
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1166609:3919ACA Some 1,500 US,
Iraqi troops descended on area northeast of Samarra Thursday,
capturing more than 30 suspected insurgents





Soldiers receive a pre-flight briefing from a UH-60 Blackhawk crew
chief prior to the start of Operation SwarmerU.S. and Iraqi forces are
continuing for a second day a sweep in northern Iraq to hunt for
weapons and suspected insurgents.

The second-ranking U.S. commander in Iraq, Lieutenant General Peter
Chiarelli, said Friday in Baghdad that the forces taking part in the
operation are facing virtually no resistance.

Some 1,500 helicopter-borne U.S. and Iraqi troops descended on an area
northeast of Samarra Thursday. They captured dozens of suspected
insurgents and uncovered six weapons caches. No casualties have been
reported.

The U.S. military says the operation is the biggest air assault in
Iraq since shortly after the U.S.-led invasion three years ago.

General Chiarelli also said Iraqi security forces have made
significant progress over the past 11 months. He said he believes the
Iraqi army will take security control of 75 percent of Iraq within the
next several months.

In other developments, Iraq's political leadership is meeting Friday
in an effort to move negotiations forward on forming a unity
government.

Iraq's new parliament was sworn in Thursday in Baghdad. The long
delayed inaugural session lasted less than an hour. Lawmakers have yet
to agree on the key posts of speaker and prime minister.

 Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.


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