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US Forces Capture Al-Qaida Militant in Iraq
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&c=667193&l=1009&ctl=14986EF:A6F02AD83191E160CC60931ADA7EE25A9574F7DCC14957C0 Military officials
say raid focused on militant believed to be responsible for bringing
foreign fighters into Iraq  The U.S. military in Iraq says American
troops captured a senior al-Qaida operative during a raid south of the
capital, Baghdad.

Military officials say the raid Saturday focused on a militant
believed to be responsible for bringing foreign fighters into Iraq.
They say the American soldiers killed one suspect and arrested 10
others.

Meanwhile, the U.S. military says another American died in combat.
Officials say the U.S. Marine was killed Friday in al-Anbar province.

On the political front, aides to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki
say the Iraqi leader has clarified his relationship with the United
States. Aides say Mr. Maliki told U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Zalmay
Khalilzad on Friday that he was Washington's friend but "not America's
man in Iraq."

Mr. Maliki is scheduled to speak by video link with U.S. President
George Bush later Saturday.

The prime minister's comment came amid a controversy over whether the
two countries had agreed on a timetable to improve security and Iraq's
economy.

During Friday's meeting, the two men agreed that a timeline for
progress is needed in the country.

Earlier in the week, Mr. Maliki said the United States had no right to
impose "timetables" on his government.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.


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