Pat Dollard | Young Americans

BAGHDAD - Iraq’s interior ministry spokesman said Saturday that 75 percent of al-Qaida in Iraq’s terrorist network had been destroyed this year, but in a sign of not letting up, the top American commander in the country said the terror group remained his chief priority.

Maj. Gen. Abdul Kareem Khalaf said the disruption of the terrorist network was due to improvements in the Iraqi security forces, which he said had made strides in weeding out commanders and officers with ties to militias or who were involved in criminal activities.

He also credited the rise of anti-al-Qaida in Iraq groups, mostly made up of Sunni fighters the Shiite-dominated government has cautiously begun to embrace. Additionally, an increase in American troops since June has been credited with pushing many militants out of Baghdad.

Violence in Iraq has dropped significantly since this Spring —the U.S. military says it is down 60 percent nationwide—demonstrating success in fighting the terrorist network.

“Their activity is now limited to certain places north of Baghdad,” Khalaf said at a news conference. “We’re working on pursuing those groups, that is the coming fight.”

Gen. David Petraeus, the top American commander in Iraq, told a small group of Western reporters on Saturday that destroying the group is still a top concern for the U.S. military.

“We still regard al-Qaida as the biggest threat,” Petraeus said. “We regard them as the most significant challenge facing Iraq.”

After nearly five years of war, American military commanders have learned to couch even optimistic reports in cautious terms. They have repeatedly said that the fight against extremists in Iraq is far from over, noting that they still have the capacity to carry out large attacks.

But the impact of U.S. and Iraqi military success against the group has been reflected in all aspects of Iraq life, especially in decreased civilian deaths.

According to an Associated Press count, civilian deaths in Iraq have steadily dropped in the second half of 2007 after seeing a high of 2,155 killed in May. Through Friday, deaths in December stood at 691, the lowest for the year and much lower than the 2,309 killed in December 2006.

AP figures on civilian deaths are compiled from hospital, police and military officials, as well as accounts from reporters and photographers. Insurgent deaths are not included. Other counts differ and some have given higher civilian death tolls.

( The AP contributed to this report )