BAGHDAD, June 4 (IslamOnline.net) - With anti-American sentiments on the rise and a spate of attacks that left more than 22 soldiers dead last month, the U.S. occupation forces became terrifically cautious about escalating Iraqi resistance activity.

Noticeably, U.S. military patrols in the Iraqi capital Baghdad increased from 700 to 2000 , and checkpoints doubled as part of precautionary measures, further to the anger of many people here.

“The U.S. soldiers shattered the glass window of some cars after they clashed with their drivers, in a clear demonstration of the occupation forces’ feelings of tension and fear,” an eyewitness told IslamOnline.net Wednesday, May 4.

Two U.S. soldiers were shot dead and another injured in north and eastern Baghdad Tuesday, raising the U.S. death toll to 24 in less than one month.

The latest attack came in response to the U.S. forces shooting down two demonstrators and injuring several others, including children, in a protest that saw calls for an end to occupation and precipitating the formation of a national representative government.

U.S. soldiers become more strict, avoid dealing with citizens here and put up more caution, despite their earlier attempts to make friendly relations with inhabitants and their children, eyewitnesses said.

“These cordiality disappeared four days ago,” noticed Abu Eyad, expressing his belief that the U.S. occupation soldiers were issued with orders to be as careful as to deal with Iraqis following a flare-up of resistance activity in the Baghdad precincts and other areas of the invasion-dashed country.

Even the workers of the Office of the Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Assistance (ORHA), led by American Paul Bremer, felt the pinch of these excessive security measures taken by the occupation forces.

“The ORHA workers are searched upon entering the ORHA headquarters or when they leave out with American soldiers,” complained one worker, who refused to give his name.

“The American administration members responded by telling us: you are our friends, but we have orders,” the worker said, stressing the condition of anonymity.

In the meanwhile, the order for Iraqis to hand over their weapons to the U.S. administration in the country found a faint - and rather suspicious -response among people here, who now feel they were let down by the U.S. promises of prosperity, freedom and security.

The inhabitants said that their areas are still afflicted with looting and thievery that make possession of weapons as necessary.

“For whose interest at least owners of shops and companies are disarmed at a time thieves still keep up their arms and terrify people under the U.S. soldiers’ own eyes,” said Gamal, a shop owner.

“We are ready to give up our arms, but there are no enough guarantees from the occupation forces or the Iraqi police,” added his colleague Abed.

“We have the right to self-defense,” he added. Others were further skeptical, seeing the U.S. move as only an effort to undermine to resistance to the occupation of their oil-rich country. The arms market on Baghdad’s streets saw a boom since the U.S. occupation began on April 9, amid general scenes of chaos and lawlessness.