Iraq insurgents seize initiative

<snip>

One security analysis showed 727 insurgent attacks of one sort or another in February, with 627 people killed, including 42 members of the Multi-National Force, 213 Iraqi security personnel, and 329 civilians.

Security officials believe that three-quarters of the attacks are carried out by networks loyal to the former Baathist regime, though they do not claim responsibility in their own name.

---

Iraqi officials are not optimistic that the handover of Sabawi Ibrahim heralds as new era of positive cooperation with the Syrians, whom they blame for much of the insurgency.

"They know more about our internal situation than we do," said one. "If they really wanted to help us, we would have the best intelligence in the Middle East. But that's not possible. We don't expect them to serve us, just not to hurt us. But that would take a very long process for them to stop."

BBC