| Baghdad's mayor threatened to resign if the government fails to provide the funds and support needed to implement development projects in the capital, complaining Baghdadis were suffering from water shortages. Meanwhile, an Iraqi politician received death threats a day after launching a party that would represent the "resistance." In a bid to improve relations with its neighbor, a delegation sent by Damascus met with Deputy Foreign Minister, Hamid al-Bayyati, to discuss preparations for the reopening of the Syrian Embassy in Baghdad. Bayyati's office declined to give details on the meeting. "It's useless for any official to stay in office without having the means to accomplish his job," Baghdad Mayor Alaa Mahmoud al-Timimi said in a news conference. He said President Jalal Talabani and Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari had promised him to secure the needed funds. Timimi's spokesman Ameer Ali Hassoun later said the municipality had requested $1.5 billion for the 2005 fiscal year but only received $85 million. Timimi had first threatened to leave office about two months ago, Hassoun said, adding the mayor put off leaving his position because of the promises he received from the government. Hassoun said the municipality was trying to expand its water projects to meet demand. "We have to confess that Baghdad suffers a shortage in water," Timimi said. "The problem is escalating." Earlier this month, a rocket attack on a water pipeline near Baghdad left millions in the capital without enough water. Some Baghdad residents complain the water they now get smells bad. Timimi said the pipeline had been repaired and the water levels were expected to return to normal in the coming days. But he added that shortages existed even before the pipeline sabotage and were expected to continue even after it was fixed. "I am part of the government and aware of the problems the country is facing," Timimi said. "But I need to have technical support from the concerned parties at the government. The people are blaming me and the Baghdad municipality." Separately, a joint statement allegedly issued by three militant groups on an Islamic Web site said fighters would target former cabinet member Ayham al-Samarie for spreading lies, after he announced the creation of the National Council for Unity and Construction of Iraq to give representation to "legitimate resistance." "We announce that it's allowed to spill the blood of Ayham Samarie. We have been too patient with his lies and we used to just deny them and provide the facts. But this isn't working anymore," the statement said, adding that it was issued by the Ansar al-Sunna army, the Islamic Army in Iraq and the Army of the Mujahideen. Its authenticity could not be verified. Elsewhere, hundreds of U.S. marines, soldiers and sailors, along with Iraqi forces, scoured the Euphrates valley west of the city of Ramadi for insurgents as part of an anti-insurgency sweep west of Baghdad dubbed "Operation Sword." - Agencies | 
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