Iraqi PM vows to crush insurgents; Thursday, 15 July, 2004, BBC News

Allawi has made restoring security his priority Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has vowed to destroy insurgents behind a wave of deadly attacks in Iraq. Mr Allawi unveiled plans for a new intelligence unit, which he said would "annihilate those terrorist groups". The prime minister announced the new intelligence unit, the General Security Directorate, at a news conference in Baghdad. "We are determined to bring down all the hurdles that stand in the way of our democracy... terrorism will be terminated," he said.

The formation of the unit is the latest in a series of steps aimed at wiping out militants behind attacks that have killed hundreds of Iraqis in recent months. Last week, Iraq announced tough new security measures, including the right to impose martial law and curfews, set up checkpoints and detain suspects.

The BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy says the prime minister has been quick to try to assert his authority and convince Iraqis that security is his top priority.