SURFIN' THE NET IN TIKRIT

The US army has opened the first unrestricted internet access in Saddam Hussein's home town of Tikrit in a bid to convince sceptical Iraqis their occupation will bring tangible benefits.

"This internet cafe we are inaugurating gives people in Tikrit for the first time total freedom of access to the web," Major Troy Rader, in charge of the project, told Reuters.

"It is one of many reconstruction projects we are doing here to help local people," he added at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Tikrit, closely guarded by troops.

Local residents said internet access prior to the toppling of Saddam was restricted to government-approved sites and was closely monitored by state security services.

Though many Iraqis are suspicions of US motives - saying the troops are there to secure oil and take out Saddam loyalists rather than rebuild the nation - Tikritis enthusiastically welcomed the internet cafe.

"Before, we had no free email, no chat, no good information, no connection with the world," cafe user Asim Abdullah said. "We were in a big jail."