Franks denies troop request claim

THE commander of the US-led war in Iraq denied yesterday that he had asked the Pentagon for more troops before invading the country but sidestepped a question about whether the war might last into the summer.

Gen Tommy Franks, speaking at a daily briefing of the US Central Command in Doha, Qatar, was responding to published reports that the requests of US generals for more ground troops were repeatedly denied by Defence Secretary Donald H Rumsfeld. Reports also quoted US military officials as saying the lack of troops and weapons meant the war might last into the summer.

“One never knows how long a war will take,” Franks said.