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More violence in Iraq as reluctant helpers convene

Another US soldier has been killed in Iraq as the US called on reluctant nations to donate generously to the war-ravaged country at a conference in Madrid.

The latest deadly attack, which took to 104 the number of US soldiers killed in Iraq since major hostilities were declared over on May 1, followed messages attributed to America's fugitive foes, former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.

US President George W. Bush, meanwhile, said that the messages would only strengthen his resolve to fight terrorism.

A US soldier was killed and five were wounded in an attack in the flashpoint town of Fallujah on Monday, a statement said.

The attack was at least the third in the hotspot town in two days in the wake of messages, purportedly from Saddam and al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden, issuing calls to arms against the US-led occupiers.

Turkey, meanwhile, said Monday the deployment of Turkish troops to Iraq was not currently on Ankara's agenda.

"For that to happen, the situation has to move on," Interior Minister Cemil Cicek said. "And that is something that does not depend on us. That is why there is no question of our taking one step further" for the moment.

Cicek's comments follow Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's warning Saturday that Turkey would give up plans to send peacekeeping troops to Iraq if they are not wanted in the war-ravaged country.

Erdogan's remarks follow harsh objections to a Turkish military involvement in Iraq by the country's interim leadership.

On the reconstruction front, US officials have stepped up their bid to secure more funds for rebuilding Iraq ahead of the two-day donors conference which opens in Spain tomorrow.

In a bid to overcome resistance to providing large cash and in-kind donations, the US has endorsed two key provisions giving non-US players a say in how reconstruction funds are spent, officials said.
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