Iraq PM: Insurgents to be defeated within months

Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraq's interim prime minister declared on Wednesday that the success of the national elections had dealt a major blow to the insurgents. But in a clear sign militants plan to continue their attacks, 12 security forces were killed in an ambush.

The Iraqi troops were returning to the northern city of Kirkuk, where they guard oil facilities, when armed men ambushed them Wednesday near the village of Zab, Maj. Gen. Anwar Mohammed Amin said today. The ambush was the deadliest attack since Sunday's general elections.

In another sign of potential trouble, a major Sunni clerical group declared that Sunday's elections "lack legitimacy" because many Sunni Arabs did not participate, saying the new government would have no mandate to guide the nation's future.

That suggested problems remain in reconciling with the Sunni Arabs, who comprise about 20 percent of Iraq's 26 million people but form the core of the insurgency.

Nevertheless, both Prime Minister Ayad Allawi and his major Shiite Muslim rivals reached out to the Sunnis, promising them a major role in drafting the new constitution even though many shunned the ballot - either out of fear of rebel attack or opposition to the electoral process.

"Definitely the Sunni Muslims will take part in the government and will have a role in the drafting of constitution," Abdul-Aziz al-Hakim, head of the main Shiite political faction, told The Associated Press.

Allawi, a secular Shiite backed by the Americans, told Iraqi television that the elections, which drew large turnouts except in Sunni insurgent strongholds, constituted a "major blow to all forces of terrorism."

He noted that attacks by Sunni insurgents had fallen dramatically since the elections but it was unclear whether the drop was the start of a trend. Insurgent activity also slowed after the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis in June but picked up weeks later. Allawi spoke before the 12 Iraqi security forces were killed.

"They might be reorganizing themselves and changing their plans," Allawi said. "The coming days and weeks will show whether this trend will continue ... But the final outcome will be failure. They will continue for months but this (insurgency) will end."

Following the election, U.S. military planners hope to shift from offensive operations against the insurgents to training Iraqi forces to do the job. Still, U.S. troops are continuing offensive operations, arresting four suspected rebels in northern Iraq and killing a suspected member of an al-Qaida-linked group northwest of Baghdad, the U.S. command said.