Truce talks on Iraqi rebel city of Fallujah break down

[Barrett808]

FALLUJAH, Iraq (AFP) - A delegation from the rebel city of Fallujah cut off negotiations with the government to protest threats by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi to invade the city if residents do not surrender foreign fighters.

"We were taken aback by Allawi's comments ... since there was no mention of Zarqawi during the talks," one of the delegates said Thursday, who gave his name as Abu Ahmed.

He was referring to Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, the Jordanian suspected of being the point man in Iraq for the Al-Qaeda terror network.

Allawi demanded Wednesday that the Sunni Muslim rebel bastion of Fallujah turn over Zarqawi, the most wanted man in Iraq, or face a military invasion.

Before Allawi made his demand, delegate Sheikh Khaled Hamud had been saying that, after weeks of talks, they were close to mediating a solution between some elements of the insurgency in the city and the government that would allow the return of Iraqi forces.

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