Maliki urges commanders to launch crackdown

BAGHDAD, Feb 6 (Reuters) Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki called on his military commanders today to speed up preparations for a security crackdown in Baghdad which he announced nearly a month ago.

Sectarian violence has surged in recent weeks, with 1,000 Iraqis reported killed in the last week alone, piling pressure on the government to launch the U S -backed offensive as soon as possible.

''I call on you to quickly finish the preparations so that we don't disappoint people,'' he told Iraqi generals.

REUTERS SY RN1737