U.S. Army reaches out to help restore stability

MOSUL, Iraq -- Joint police patrols began Saturday in Mosul -- one measure among many initiated by American forces to establish order and trust between the troops and a tense city of 700,000 people.

After two straight days without any reports of attacks on U.S. forces, "we feel that security has dramatically improved in the city," said Maj. Gen. David Petraeus, commander of the 101st Airborne Division.

"I personally have walked the streets and it's amazing how much shaking someone's hand ... can break down barriers and we have been doing that all over the city," he said on a visit to the new civil affairs office.

Mosul is among Iraq's most volatile cities, shared uneasily by several ethnic groups including Arabs and Kurds. It also saw some of the most recent bloodshed; passions have had less time to cool than in many other parts of Iraq.

Last week, local hospital officials said 17 people died in confrontations with U.S. Marines, who were holding part of Mosul. The Army arrived Tuesday to take control.

The soldiers set out to calm the nation's third-largest city in a variety of ways. Three walk-in centers opened Saturday to inform people gasoline was flowing at some service stations and propane will be available starting Sunday.

In a move to assure residents that the United States doesn't intend to exert long-term control of Iraq, Petraeus met Saturday with a prominent tribal leader and a high representative of the Iraqi National Congress opposition group.

The aim was to work out terms for electing an interim city council and mayor. No final agreement was reached, but the participants said they were satisfied and pledged cooperation.

"We will do everything with a friend," said Mishan Al Jbouri, a leader of the regionally powerful Jbour tribe.

Petraeus also met with acting Mosul police chief Abdulah Aziz to talk about ways American forces and the city's nearly 2,200 police officers can work together.

There had been several cases of U.S. troops forcibly disarming the police officers, mistaking them for Iraqi military. But Aziz said most difficulties have now been smoothed out and joint patrols that began Saturday were working well.

"For security in the city we have to work with the U.S. Army now," Aziz said through an interpreter. "Only with the U.S. Army is it going to get better."

Though he appreciated the help, Aziz said he was happy with assurances that the United States does not plan to keep an occupation force in Iraq forever.

Others agreed. Ghassan Dolami, 36, a former Iraqi Army doctor, said he hoped the U.S. presence would continue until a functioning democratic government was established, but no longer.

"I hope the situation is transitory -- temporary, maybe one to two years," said Dolami, standing outside the former Mosul Military Hospital with his oldest child, 9-year-old Saad, as American officers met with hospital officials inside.

Dolami watched as a group of children and other Iraqis approached some U.S. soldiers, wanting only to shake hands and talk. Noticing how the soldiers edged closer to their Humvees at first, he said there is still a lot of work to do before both sides trust one another.

"We feel the U.S. Army is afraid of us despite us having no weapons and guns," Dolami said. "I go to talk to them and they move back -- why?"

Combat-trained soldiers say it is a difficult adjustment to this kind of police work.

"I feel a little like a fish out of water," said 28-year-old Capt. Andy Deponai, a company commander from Champaign, Ill., with the 4th Infantry's 1st Battalion, 66th Armored Regiment. "But you go on your natural human instinct and you're fine."

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Associated Press reporter Kimberly Hefling in Mosul contributed to this report.