US commander orders review of Baghdad crackdown

BAGHDAD, Oct 19 (Reuters) The top American commander in Iraq has ordered a review of a US-led crackdown in Baghdad, a spokesman said today, as reinforcements have failed to ease violence and the US death toll has spiked this month.

At least 71 US troops have been killed so far in October, a toll US commanders have blamed on more perilous patrolling by US forces trying to stamp out sectarian militias and insurgents in the sprawling capital.

''General Casey has ordered a review of Operation Together Forward. US casualties are a grave concern but that is not driving the review,'' Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Garver said.

''The enemy is adapting and we have to make changes,'' he told Reuters. ''This is a constant review process.'' He said that General George Casey, who commands the 140,000 US troops in Iraq ordered the review last week.

US commanders launched Operation Forward Together in August to rein in spiralling sectarian violence in Baghdad, seen as key to stabilising Iraq. Some 15,000 US troops are helping Iraqi forces in raids that have targeted specific neighbourhoods.

US military spokesman Major General William Caldwell said today the crackdown had not eased violence overall.

''In Baghdad, Operation Together Forward has made a difference in the focus areas but it has not met our overall expectations of sustaining a reduction in the levels of violence,'' he told a news conference.

After falling to 43 in July, the US toll rose to 65 in August and to 71 in September. At the current pace, October will likely be one of the deadliest months for US forces since the 2003 invasion.

REUTERS LL BST2153