Marine Staff Sergeant Jeremy Stafford, a spokesman for the civil affairs program, could not give a date for the start of the joint patrols but said talks were under way with Iraqi security officials.

"The intended plan is to have joint patrols with one Iraqi car along with one of our Humvees," Stafford said.

He said the Iraqi police remained a significant force in terms of manpower and vehicles, and the main issue was to screen their personnel for patrol duty.

"It is just a matter to make sure we don't have any embedded fedayeen," Stafford said, in a reference to the paramilitary units ultra-loyal to Saddam Hussein.

The decision to institute the joint patrols was taken at a meeting of US military officials, Iraqi civilian leaders and officials of humanitarian groups operating in Iraq, according to sources who participated.

Iraqi anger had been growing over continued lawlessness in the country, with a spate of looting breaking out in the capital and other cities after Saddam's regime fell on Wednesday.

About 100 residents staged the first anti-American demonstration here Sunday, accusing the United States of breaking its promise to restore stability to the country once Saddam was gone.

US officials have begun trying to rebuild the Iraqi police force as well as drawing people back to key sectors such as the electricity department.

SPACE.WIRE