United States to Transfer Free Iraqi Forces to Baghdad Soon

The United States will start transferring Free Iraqi Forces, which were established by the Iraqi National Congress, to Baghdad within the next few hours. These Free Iraqi Forces are called on to re-establish law and order in the Iraqi capital. (The Iraqi National Congress is an opposition organization outside Iraq -- Ed.) This was disclosed by The Washington Post, which refers to sources inside the US Administration. The first 600 soldiers serving with the Free Iraqi Forces, who arrived in Iraq last week, were stationed at an air-force base near An Nasiriyah, the newspaper reports. The Iraqis were subsequently trained by US special forces and issued weapons that were seized by US troops from Saddam Hussein's soldiers.

The Iraqi opposition's military units are to help re-establish law and order in Baghdad, as well as other Iraqi cities.

A 150-strong company will be sent to Baghdad, for openers; this company will be directly subordinated to the US high command.