U.S. Officials and Fallujah Representatives to Hold Direct Negotiations

[NNN0LHI]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGA727M64TD.html

FALLUJAH, Iraq (AP) - U.S. military and civilian officials planned to meet Friday with leaders from Fallujah, U.S. officials said, the first report of direct negotiations between Americans and city representatives since the siege of Fallujah began 12 days ago. snip

"We are coming in here with an open mind. It is very important what we are doing. We are trying to give diplomatic negotiations a chance here," Marine Maj. T.V. Johnson said.

U.S. officials would not comment on the substance of the negotiations or who the Fallujah representatives would be.

A table was set up at a Marine base near Fallujah for the talks, in which one U.S. coalition official and one military official were to participate.

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[Corgigal]

1. I'm not sure this is going to work

however its the smartest thing they have done concerning Fallujah in the past month. I guess they bomb and shoot first, if that doesn't work OK, we'll talk now.