Colonel Tim Regen told AFP the chaotic security situation remained his biggest obstacle, but bristled at criticism from international relief agencies the US military had not done enough to make the country safe for help.

"The Fifth Corp and Third Infantry Division have rolled into town and secured it, but we're still fighting the small factions," he said on a visit to Baghdad's Al-Yarmuk hospital, which was damaged by a US airstrike.

He admitted the US army's humanitarian operations were still "probably about 10 percent of where we want to be."

He said his biggest job right now was getting the power up and running, especially in Baghdad.

"Right now the main issue is power. Generation capability is linked to water delivery," Regen said.

The US military had said it was aiming to ensure half the city's five million people receive rolling power by Friday. Baghdad has been without power since April 4 after it was cut off during heavy US-led bombings.

But Regen stressed some of the capital's neighborhoods did not have electricity well before the Americans arrived.

"You gotta understand. It's not just come in and turn the power back on. The electricity lines that lead to the plant have to be assessed. Then there's natural gas lines," he said.

"We want the Iraqis to be self-sufficient. In order to be self-sufficient, they need to start with their own power plants. We've got our civil affairs officers out there trying to get those workers back to work."

SPACE.WIRE