Iraqi security forces backed by multinational forces are soon to launch military operations against insurgents in the northern city of Mosul.

Iraqi Minister of State Qassim Dawoud announced the decision on Tuesday.

"I would like to announce that we will begin soon our military operations to crack down on insurgents in Mosul. Our brothers in Mosul will see our operations get rid of the criminals who spread instability there. As you know, we found a lot of beheaded bodies and lots of crimes that no one can imagine."

Mosul has become a trouble spot since American and Iraqi forces launched a major offensive to retake the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah in November.

Soon after that, Mosul witnessed an uprising that saw militants overpowering police and looting or burning police stations.

Dawoud predicted that insurgents would "increase their savagery" ahead of national elections on January 30, but insisted that the Iraqi interim government would not allow them to affect the political process.

Some interim Iraqi government officials are suggesting that the elections be postponed to ensure a higher Sunni voter turnout.

On Tuesday, Baghdad governor Al-Haidari was killed in an attack claimed by the militant group of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Ten other people were killed by a suicide truck bomb, and five American troops were slain in three separate attacks.

(CRI.com January 5, 2005)