July 27 2004 at 10:36AM
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Baghdad - United States aircraft dropped leaflets on the rebellious Iraqi city of Fallujah on Tuesday, warning residents they will lose $102-million (about R637-million) in rebuilding funds if they do not halt attacks and allow US troops to enter freely.
After fierce fighting in April in which hundreds of Iraqis were killed, American forces withdrew from Fallujah and handed over responsibility for security to an Iraqi brigade.
Critics say the move has turned Fallujah into a safe haven for insurgents and put the city under the control of guerrillas.
"If the security situation does not improve you will lose $102-million, which is already allocated and approved. This amount of money will be transferred to peaceful and open towns," the leaflet said.
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| 'We ask the citizens of Fallujah to make way for multinational forces' |
Since occupation forces ousted former president Saddam Hussein 15 months ago, the city west of Baghdad has been a hotbed of anti-American violence. On March 31, four American security guards were killed and their bodies burnt in images that shocked the world.
US warplanes have launched several air strikes on the city in recent weeks, targeting its most wanted man in Iraq, Jordanian militant and suspected al-Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
American troops are still based near Fallujah.
The leaflets said one project that Fallujah could lose was a $35-million (about R218-million) water treatment upgrade.
"Our fight is not with the honest citizens of Fallujah, but with those who want to destroy the future of Fallujah and those who are doing this for their own benefits," added the leaflet.
Washington has allocated $18,4-billion (about R115-billion) for rebuilding across Iraq, but the country's precarious security has prevented large amounts of that money from being disbursed.
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