Powell contacts foreign counterparts over Fallujah offensive
9/11/2004 11:21
Secretary of State Colin Powell called some foreign counterparts to
explain US offensive in Fallujah and promised to avoid civilian casualties,
State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a news briefing on
Monday.
"The secretary has been active with other foreign ministers, as have
others in the department, in terms of message about the operations that are
commencing in Fallujah," Boucher said.
Boucher said that Powell consulted
with and explained to them that the United States saw the military operation as
the last resort.
Powell called the foreign ministers of Poland, Egypt,
Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia, and "he will make another couple of phone calls
this afternoon to other friends and concerned parties in the area," Boucher
said.
Boucher admitted there are concerns for civilian casualties in the
offensive.
"There is obvious concern about the civilians in Fallujah, for
this reason the government has for days now encouraged people to leave," Boucher
said.
"US forces, coalition forces and I am sure, Iraqi forces, will make
every possible provision to avoid civilian casualties," he said.
The Pentagon
said that about 15,000 US and Iraqi troops are participating in operation
"Phantom Fury," which began Monday to try to re-take control of the city held by
insurgents.
Xinhua News
|
