US forces detained 180 people in raids to combat resistance to their occupation of Iraq, the military said today, as local residents reported a huge weekend blast at an arms depot killed at least 30 Iraqis.
Scores of people were hurt in the explosion at a munitions store in a desert area 260 km northeast of Baghdad on Saturday, residents said, adding that US forces arrested several looters afterwards and handed them to Iraqi police.
US forces are trying to crack down on a massive upsurge in general crime, including widespread looting, which followed the overthrow of Saddam Hussein on April 9th.
They are also battling threats to their own troops, who have come under attack almost daily in recent weeks.
US officers blame Saddam loyalists, but Iraqis say some attackers are not linked to the ousted leader and simply oppose occupation, believing the invading troops have not respected them or provided basic services and security.
"We are concerned about the level of violence but at the same time we are confident (that) with our security forces and with our military forces and with the rebuilding of Iraqi infrastructure, especially the Iraqi police force, we can bring this under control," US Secretary of State Colin Powell told ABC television.
Assailants fired a rocket-propelled grenade last night at an army patrol in the town of Falluja, about 50 km west of Baghdad, wounding a journalist attached to a military unit, US Central Command said in a statement.