Baghdad, Iraq, Sept 9, SPA -- U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces entered the central city of Samarra for the first time inmonths Thursday in order to reseat the city council andregain control, the military said in a statement. The troops that entered also aim to conduct an assessmentof the police stations, the statement said. U.S. Humvees and armored vehicles were seen going into thecity. Two U.S. helicopters hovered overhead. In a city council meeting Thursday, the interim mayor andacting police chief of Samarra were put into place untilthe general elections expected by January. Local leaders in the Salahuddin province, of which Samarrais the provincial capital, and the U.S. 1st InfantryDivision have taken necessary steps to restore normalcy tothe city, the statement said.--SPA1448 Local Time 1148 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/199782