ABOUT 50 INSURGENTS MOUNTED A BRAZEN ATTACK ON IRAQI FORCES IN BAGHDAD ON MONDAY, PROMPTING U.S. TROOPS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT IN A BATTLE THAT LASTED SEVEN HOURS, A U.S. MILITARY SPOKESMAN SAID ACCORDING TO REUTERS. THE GUERRILLAS ATTACKED IRAQI FORCES IN THE MOSTLY SUNNI ARAB DISTRICT OF ADHAMIYA IN NORTHERN BAGHDAD OVERNIGHT. FIVE REBELS WERE KILLED AND ONE MEMBER OF THE IRAQI FORCES WAS WOUNDED. THERE WERE NO U.S. CASUALTIES, SAID THE SPOKESMAN. "IT WAS QUITE A BATTLE. IT LASTED SEVEN HOURS," HE SAID. WHILE INSURGENTS MOUNT SUCH ATTACKS IN THEIR STRONGHOLDS IN WESTERN ANBAR PROVINCE, THEY ARE RARE IN THE IRAQI CAPITAL. THE BOLD ATTACK RAISES FRESH QUESTIONS ABOUT SECURITY IN THE CAPITAL AS IRAQI LEADERS STRUGGLE TO FORM A UNITY GOVERNMENT THEY HOPE CAN AVERT A SECTARIAN CIVIL WAR. THE WITHDRAWAL OF U.S. TROOPS DEPENDS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF IRAQ'S SECURITY FORCES, WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO CURB INSURGENT SUICIDE BOMBINGS, SHOOTINGS AND ASSASSINATIONS AS WELL AS A RISE IN SECTARIAN VIOLENCE.
