Iraq's interim government said on Saturday it had resumed talks to pacify the western town of Falluja and avert a military assault on the rebel stronghold that has faced heavy U.S. bombardment in recent days. Defence Minister Hazim Shaalan said he had renewed contacts with Falluja's chief negotiator, Sheikh Khaled al-Jumaili, and other local leaders who said a meeting could come as soon as Sunday. "We will resume talks once again with our brothers and will reach new results, God willing," Shaalan told a news conference. "Today, we will have a phone conversation to agree a meeting for this week to keep talks going." Talks aimed at securing the return of Iraqi security forces to Falluja collapsed more than a week ago after Prime Minister Iyad Allawi threatened to attack the city unless it handed over Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and his followers. The U.S. military said it had captured a lieutenant of Zarqawi, its top foe in Iraq, and five other suspects in an overnight raid on Falluja, 50 km (30 miles) west of Baghdad. But residents of the town, which has been a bastion of guerrilla activity since shortly after U.S.-led forces toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, say they know nothing of Zarqawi's foreign fighters and that U.S. raids take a toll on civilians. A Falluja negotiator said the Mujahadeen Shura (council), a body that claims to represent at least some of the insurgent forces in the town, along with local governors and tribal sheikhs had agreed in principle to restart talks provided the United States stops the daily air strikes. Falluja has been in the hands of guerrillas since a U.S. offensive in April failed to dislodge them. Police there do not answer to Baghdad and the town has since become more militant. The U.S. military and the interim government it supports say Falluja is a key base for Zarqawi's network, blamed for Iraq's bloodiest suicide bombings and hostage beheadings.
