Two Iraqi police chiefs sacked

Police chiefs in two major Iraqi cities were sacked today amid a rise in insurgent attacks as US forces press their offensive against rebels in Fallujah.

Mosul police chief Brigadier General Mohammed Kheiri Barhawi was axed after rebels launched widespread attacks in Iraq’s third largest city yesterday, according to deputy Governor Khissrou Gouran.

The police chief in Samarra, Taleb Shamel, said he too had been fired. There was no confirmation from the Iraqi government in Baghdad on the moves .

Shamel said no reason was given but the city has been the scene of clashes between insurgents and US troops since they regained control of Samarra from guerrillas in September.

Clashes erupted around 3pm Friday in Samarra, and hospital officials said one Iraqi was killed and three were wounded.

The United States hopes to deploy enough trained Iraqi police and National Guard troops so that they can assume more security duties from the Americans, enabling Washington to consider reducing the 142,000 strong US troop presence.

However, the performance of Iraqi forces – especially the police – has been uneven, and US officials acknowledge privately that training has been ineffective.

In Mosul, Barhawi was replaced by Brig. Gen. Adel Fatouhi, the official said. The move followed allegations by local officials that Mosul police abandoned their positions and in some cases co-operated with insurgents during yesterday’s attacks.