US blames blast on bomb class as Iraqi ire simmers

The US military said a bomb-making class inside a mosque triggered a deadly explosion that enraged the Iraqi town of Falluja, where residents vowed yesterday to wage holy war against US occupiers.

President George W. Bush said the US military forces that overthrew Saddam Hussein had all the power needed to deal with attacks by Iraqis opposed to their presence in the country, which have escalated in recent weeks.

The US military, which has about 156,000 soldiers in Iraq, said it carried out five more raids in an operation to stamp out the violence, detaining three people and confiscating assault rifles and grenades.

US Central Command said a blast at a mosque in Falluja, west of Baghdad, on Monday night was caused by people being taught how to make bombs in the building.

It said a joint investigation conducted with Falluja police had determined that coalition forces were in no way responsible for the blast. Residents had blamed it on an American air strike - an accusation US military officials flatly denied.

Iraqis living in the town said nine people were killed, including the mosque's imam, or prayer leader.

An American soldier hurt on Tuesday in a Baghdad attack died of his wounds, the latest casualty in a series of guerilla-style attacks. At least 23 American servicemen have been killed by hostile fire since major combat operations were declared over for the US and British allies on May 1.

Two other American soldiers were found dead in uncertain circumstances last month. Mr Bush said in Washington that US forces were tough enough to deal with the attacks.

"There are some who feel like that conditions are such that they can attack us there," he told reporters at the White House. "My answer is bring them on. We have the force necessary to deal with the situation."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw made a lightning visit to Iraq as the bodies of six British soldiers killed a week ago in clashes over arms searches were flown home.

US officials have blamed a spate of attacks on highly trained members of Iraq's former army and intelligence services loyal to Saddam.

Mr Straw, on a regional tour, met top British commanders in southern Iraq before going to Baghdad, where he said Iraqis would soon start to assume responsibility for their country, but that the process leading to an Iraqi government would take time.

He said it was the job of the United States and Britain to bring peace to the country.