Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

The new head of the U.S. Central Command says U.S. troops in Iraq are facing a classic guerilla war led by people loyal to ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

General John Abizaid says members of Saddam Hussein's Baath Party are among those behind the almost- daily attacks on U.S.-led coalition forces. He says the attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated.

General Abizaid spoke at the Pentagon Wednesday after a wave of attacks around the Iraqi capital of Baghdad left one U.S. soldier dead and several wounded. In one incident, an Iraqi boy was killed when an assailant tossed a grenade at U.S. soldiers guarding a central Baghdad bank.

And, a surface-to-air missile was fired at - but missed - a C-130 military transport plane as it was landing at Baghdad airport.

In another incident, the mayor of the Iraqi city of Hadithah was shot and killed after residents reportedly accused him of cooperating with American forces. U.S. military officials say Mohammed Nayil al-Jurayfi's son was also killed in the attack.

Hadithah lies northwest of Baghdad, in a Sunni Muslim area that has been particularly hostile to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq.

The attacks come on the anniversary of the date in 1979 when Saddam Hussein seized power in Iraq. Thursday marks the day Saddam's Baath Party seized power in 1968.

The U.S. military has been concerned that Saddam loyalists will commemorate the dates by stepping up attacks against U.S. troops.

Hostile fire has killed at least 33 U.S. soldiers since May 1, when the United States declared major combat in the country over.

Some information for this report provided by AP and Reuters.