U.S. and Iraqi commanders hail security

By Peter Graff

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. and Iraqi commanders on Saturday hailed a big improvement in security over the past year, while al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden accused the Americans of seeking to exploit Iraq's oil wealth.

The top American general in Iraq said progress had been made in curbing attacks and civilian deaths, but warned that the gains could be reversed.

"Success will emerge slowly and fitfully with reverses as well as advances. Inevitably there will be tough fighting, more tough days and more tough weeks, but fewer of them, inshallah (God willing)," General David Petraeus said in a year-end briefing to journalists.

In a message to his troops, he wrote: "A year ago, Iraq was racked by horrific violence and on the brink of civil war.

"Now, levels of violence and civilian and military casualties are significantly reduced and hope has been rekindled in Iraqi communities. To be sure, the progress is reversible and there is much more to be done."

Iraqi Interior Ministry spokesman Major-General Abdul-Karim Khalaf said 75 percent of Sunni al Qaeda networks and 70 percent of its activities had been eliminated.

In a statement posted on the Internet, al Qaeda leader bin Laden urged Iraqis not to join counter-insurgency patrols -- predominantly Sunni Arab tribal police funded by the U.S. military to fight al Qaeda and reduce violence.

Bin Laden also accused the United States of plotting to take control of Iraq's oil wealth and called on Iraqis to reject efforts to rebuild a U.S.-backed national unity government.

"America seeks alongside its agents in the region to create an allied government ... that would accept in advance the presence of major U.S. bases in Iraq and give the Americans all they wish of Iraq's oil," he said.

WHITE HOUSE CONDEMNS BIN LADEN

Sunni Arabs pulled out of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's Shi'ite-led government earlier this year, accusing it of being too sectarian.

Maliki flew to London on Saturday for what he said was a routine medical checkup, but an official in his office said it was treatment for exhaustion.

The official said Maliki, 57, would also undergo a series of routine checkups, including tests on his heart.

"He is suffering from mild exhaustion. He is also going to have a heart scan," the official said.

U.S. officials are concerned that slow progress towards reconciliation between Shi'ites and Sunnis could erode security gains.