Iraqi resistance numbered at 5,000

A US Central Command official has estimated that the number of Iraqi resistance fighters could number between 4,000 and 5,000.

The official said that the figure takes into consideration the various different "actions" going on in Iraq.

"Iraq is more than a guerilla war," said the senior Centcom official.

"It is a low-intensity conflict where you have to fight terrorists, you have to fight guerrillas, you have to fight criminals and you have to achieve stability. It's a multi-faceted effort, and most of the country is stable."

The spokesperson also revealed that the Iraqi Intelligence Service has had a much bigger role in the guerrilla attacks than previously imagined.

The official said that colonels and lieutenant colonels were "orchestrating the action at regional and local levels in the country". They have access to funds and access to arms and weapons, and in many cases they are hiring poorer Iraqis to launch attacks.

However, the US has said that the clashes will not impact on its goal of creating a secure and stable environment for Iraqi civilians.

Across Iraq in the last 24 hours, Coalition forces conducted 29 raids, 1,096 day patrols and 889 night patrols, and conducted 122 day patrols and 139 night patrols jointly with Iraqi police.

The 13,000-strong Iraqi police conducted 13-day patrols and 14 night patrols.

The total raids and patrols resulted in 241 arrests for various criminal activities including four for murder, one for kidnapping, 19 for car jacking, six for aggravated assault, 16 for burglary and 10 for looting.

(GMcG)