Pentagon Approves More Troops For Baghdad

Iraqi troops search a house in Baghdad on March 6 (epa) March 8, 2007 -- The Pentagon has approved a request from the top U.S. commander in Iraq for the deployment of 2,200 more U.S. military police to help handle an anticipated increase in people detained during the ongoing Baghdad security crackdown.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the extra military police requested by General David Petraeus would be in addition to the 21,500 U.S. combat troops and 2,400 support troops that have already been ordered to Baghdad to implement the security plan.

More than 90 people were reported killed in attacks in Iraq on March 7. The attacks included the suicide bombing of a cafe in Balad Ruz, northeast of Baghdad, which killed more than 30 people.

More than 20 police and civilians were reported killed in a bombing, apparently targeting Shi'ite pilgrims traveling to Karbala for the Arbain observance, at a checkpoint in southern Baghdad.

Also, three U.S. soldiers were reported killed in a bombing north of Baghdad.

(AP, AFP)