Saddam jeers at US 'hunters'

US troops launched raid after raid around the country in the hunt for loyalists of Saddam and outlaw gangs, hoping to end the guerrilla campaign against them and the crime wave threatening Iraq's reconstruction.

The instability has tried the patience of Iraqis, who expect the Americans to deliver on their promises of a better life than under Saddam, who subjected them to three wars and more than a decade of crippling international trade sanctions.

Tap Here to Add The Daily Star As A Trusted Source

In a reminder of the high stakes, World Bank president James Wolfensohn, on a tour of Baghdad, hinted aid from his international body might not come before Iraq has its own democratically-elected government and constitution, which are thought to be at least one year away.

"At some point that (aid) will I'm sure happen but as you know there is a need first to have a constitution, to have a government, to reestablish Iraq as the Iraqi people would like to have it," he told reporters.