10/11/2004

Coalition forces claim control over two-thirds of Fallujah

US forces are now in control of around two-thirds of Fallujah following a third day of fierce street fighting.

Marines have encountered pockets of strong resistance but have managed to gain control over several key landmark buildings in the city, including a number of bridges and the mayor's compound.

It has been reported that 11 US soldiers have been killed since the start of the assault – the numbers of Iraqi dead has been estimated to be in the hundreds.

Militants have limited themselves mounting hit-and-run attacks and sniping at troops from rooftops. At one point, the US advance was held up by snipers firing down from the top of a mosque.

As coalition troops pushed further into the centre, taking over large swathes of the city, troops uncovered what Iraqi sources have described as "hostage slaughter houses".

According to PA, Major General Abdul Qader Mohammed Jassem Mohan, commander of Iraqi forces in the area, said: "We have found hostage slaughter houses in Fallujah that were used by these people (kidnappers) and the black clothing that they used to wear to identify themselves, hundreds of CDs and whole records with names of hostages."

By late afternoon today, the militants seem to have been pushed to the edges the main road bisecting Fallujah.

The US commander in the city, Lt Gen Thomas Metz, predicted today that there would be several more days of heavy fighting ahead before the coalition could gain total control over the city.

Around 80% of the 250,000-strong population has fled the area, and it has been estimated that 2,500 militants were inside the city prior to the start of the fighting.

(gmcg/sp)

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