THE CHANGING THREAT IN IRAQ

Terrorism is emerging as "the No. 1 security threat" in Iraq, with an al Qaeda-related group establishing operations in Baghdad and foreign fighters pouring over the border from Syria, the head of U.S. Central Command said yesterday.

"Clearly, it is emerging as the No. 1 security threat, and we are applying a lot of time, energy and resources to identify it, understand it and deal with it," Lt. Gen. John Abizaid said.

Abizaid said there has been "an increase" in operations by the group Ansar al-Islam, considered by the United States as a possible suspect in the bombings of the U.N. headquarters in Baghdad on Tuesday and the Jordanian Embassy Aug. 7.

"We think they've migrated from the north down into Baghdad, and we think that they're established there. It's not good for us when they get established in an urban area, as you can well appreciate," he said.