Iraq: Leith Kubba claims 90 insurgents killed, others 'perturbed'

yahoo/AFP: Ninety insurgents have been killed in a series of US-led sweeps in western Iraq since they kicked off on September 28, government spokesman Leith Kubba revealed.

"The total from the operations is 90 killed while the number of arrests has reached 178," Kubba told journalists, adding that the offensives had "perturbed armed groups' activity and (helped) obtain information that will help us track down their members".

The US military said the operations, including Iron Fist which ended near the Syrian border on Thursday, were aimed at thwarting Al-Qaeda-linked militant activity in the restive and largely Sunni Arab province of Al-Anbar.

Thirteen US troops have been reported killed in the province since the start of the operations.

Kubba said that US and Iraqi forces would stay in the area for the October 15 referendum on the country's new constitution and that 700 independent electoral commission workers would also be deployed in the province.

Sunni Arab groups called Saturday for their voters to defeat the constitution by any legitimate means, including by boycott or a "no" vote, believing the new basic law will lead to the country's break-up.

"No call for boycott has worked," said Kubba. "The most important thing is for Iraqis to take part by voting 'yes' or 'no'. "

db: 90 'insurgents' killed eh Kubba - were they all vermin, as you are fond of characterizing them? How many children? We know you and your friends took out 8 bridges [yes you idiots are still destroying infrastructure], but how many private houses did you flatten? How many hospitals did you damage? How many residents did you terrorize/displace?