Blast in Basra targets Iraqis

The Basra blast happened near a checkpoint when no British soldiers were in the area. A spokeswoman said the man planting the bomb was killed. The blast ripped through a nearby minibus, and Iraqi police at the scene said at least three people were killed in the explosion.

Meanwhile, the top US Military commander in Iraq signalled that his forces would take tougher action against insurgents. ‘‘We will not hesitate to employ the appropriate levels of combat power,’’ he said. ‘‘The most important message is that we’re going to get tough. That’s what’s necessary to defeat this enemy and we’re definitely not shy about doing that. Not a single tool that we have would be spared if necessary to defeat that enemy,’’ he said.

Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said yesterday Washington was not looking for an exit strategy and that his commanders had assured him the insurgency was under control.

The Pentagon last week announced a plan to reduce US forces in Iraq to 105,000 by next May. ‘‘The goal is not to reduce the number of US forces in Iraq,’’ Rumsfeld said. ‘‘It’s not to develop an exit strategy. Our exit strategy in Iraq is success. It’s that simple.’’

Iraq’s US Governor, Paul Bremer, left the country at short notice and cancelled a meeting on Tuesday with visiting Polish PM Leszek Miller, the Polish delegation said. There was no immediate explanation for the move.

Iraq’s interim foreign minister called on Tuesday for the creation of a new security force that would include fighters from Shi’ite, Kurdish and other groups opposed to Saddam.

‘‘They would hunt down Baathist loyalists, within the law, but with a tougher approach,’’ Hoshiyar Zebari said in an interview. ‘‘We need to show people that there is a visible Iraqi authority in the street.’’

The US-led administration in Iraq has said it is open to the creation of such a force but wants to ensure it was not controlled by political factions and worked under US command. (Reuters)