During a visit to Iraq Thursday, General John Abizaid said troops from the US Army's 1st Armored Division may stay past their departure date, The Washington Post reported. The US general said he was examining the role of the 3rd Infantry Division, as well.

In an interview at US command headquarters near Baghdad airport, Abizaid also warned Iraqi militias, both Sunni and majority Shiite, that the United States intended to beat them, the New York Times reported.

"First, we are going to win," Abizaid said, speaking alongside Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, after several days of fighting in several cities between US forces and Iraqi militias, mostly supporters of Shiite radical leader Moqtada Sadr.

"Secondly, everyone needs to understand that there is no more powerful force assembled on Earth than this military force in this country that's backed up with our naval and air forces in near proximity," the Times quoted Abizaid as saying.

"The fact that we have been so judicious in the use of force should not be lost on anybody," he told reporters. "This country (Iraq) will not suffer intimidation by the United States of America. But those who oppose moving democracy forward will have to pay the consequences if they don't cease and desist."

The US-led coalition on Friday ordered a 24-hour halt to its six-day-old offensive against the insurgent bastion of Fallujah, but fighting continued as field commanders said they were pressing their assault.

WAR.WIRE