US launches attack on Bigley terrorists

American forces in Iraq launched a fresh offensive today against the terrorists responsible for the murder of British hostage Ken Bigley and two US captives.

In a major dawn operation, warplanes and helicopters bombarded the rebel town of Fallujah, home to the Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

The raids follow bomb attacks in Baghdad's so-called green zone yesterday and come a week after the execution of the 62-year-old Liverpudlian.

Al-Zarqawi, a Muslim extremist and the most wanted man in Iraq, has claimed responsibility for both atrocities. The US military said the attacks were aimed at 37-year-old Zarqawi's network and had destroyed a weapons cache. Warplanes were targeting suspected guerrilla positions in an attempt to root out the militants.

Iraq's interim prime minister Iyad Allawi had called on Fallujah's residents to give up Zarqawi and his fighters.

Mr Allawi's demand was rejected by city representatives, causing peace talks to be suspended. British officials regard Fallujah as a "cradle of evil". The city's population of 300,000 is mainly Sunni Muslim - as is Saddam Hussein - and swathes of Fallujah are controlled by terrorist warlords, providing a safe haven for groups planning attacks in Baghdad, 60 miles away.

A senior Pentagon official said the attacking US forces were exploiting intelligence and were focusing on "targets of opportunity".

The air strikes were aimed at illegal checkpoints and safe houses belonging to Zarqawi's terrorist group, said the official.

The United States has offered a $25 million reward for the capture of the rebel. His terrorist group, said to be linked to al Qaeda, carried out yesterday's twin bombings in the heavily fortified green zone of Baghdad.

The attacks, in the most secure area of the city, raise questions about security in Iraq. The blasts erupted within seconds of each other - one in a café¬ the other in a street lined with souvenir stalls. At least one is believed to have been carried out by a suicide bomber.

The continued instability in Iraq has cast renewed doubts on whether the planned elections can go ahead in January.

Mr Allawi has said he wants to gain control of the rebel-held strongholds before holding the poll, but this is looking increasingly unlikely.

In the latest indication that an election could be delayed, Iraqi president Ghazi Yawar said the date of the election was "not set in stone".

He added: "We're trying our best to adhere to this date, but if we see that the elections will be held without security or that the situation will not result in fair, comprehensive elections... then we will not hesitate to change the date."