BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. troops urged civilians to flee Falluja on Friday and launched air strikes on the rebel city ahead of an assault seen as critical to attempts to pacify Iraq before January elections. U.S. forces sealed all roads to the city and used loudspeakers and leaflets in Arabic to tell residents they would detain any man under 45 trying to enter or leave the city.
"We are making last preparations. It will be soon. We are just awaiting orders from Prime Minister (Iyad) Allawi," Marine Colonel Michael Shupp told Reuters near Falluja.
Many residents have already fled the Sunni Muslim city of 300,000, about 50 km (32 miles) west of Baghdad. U.S. warplanes and artillery bombarded Falluja on Friday, residents said, and rebels fired mortars and rocket-propelled grenades at U.S. forces on the city outskirts. There was no immediate word on casualties. Ambulances were waiting for fighting to ease before venturing on to the streets.
The U.S. military said overnight air raids had destroyed a command post, arms caches and rebel positions. Hospital workers in Falluja said the strikes had killed three people, wounded four and destroyed five houses. The military also said two Marines were killed and four wounded in combat on Thursday in Anbar province, home to Falluja and the city of Ramadi, also expected to be part of any assault.
Allawi was meeting European Union leaders in Brussels on Friday and was expected to return to Iraq after that. |