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| Iraq-Jordan |
| 70% of Fallujah under US control |
| 2004-11-10 |
| U.S. forces cornered insurgents Wednesday in a narrow strip of Fallujah after a stunningly swift advance that seized control of 70 percent of the militant stronghold. An Iraqi general said troops found "hostage slaughterhouses" where foreign captives had been killed. The abandoned houses had hostages' documents, CDs showing captives being killed, and black clothing worn by militants in videos, Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Mohammed Jassem Mohan said. But it appeared none of the at least nine foreigners still in kidnappers' hands — including two Americans — were found. Mohan said he did not know which hostages' documents were uncovered. The speed of the U.S. drive in Fallujah may indicate that most Sunni fighters and their leaders abandoned the city before the offensive and moved elsewhere to carry on the fight, officers said. The most notorious kidnapper, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, is believed to have fled the city. Many of the remaining fighters have asked to surrender, government spokesman Thair al-Naqeeb told reporters. He said Iraqi authorities "will extend amnesty" to those who have not committed major crimes. Armed men kidnapped three relatives of Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi — his cousin, the cousin's wife and their daughter-in-law — from their Baghdad home Tuesday night, al-Naqeeb said. A militant group calling itself Ansar al-Jihad claimed in a Web posting to be holding them threatened to behead them in 48 hours unless the Fallujah siege is lifted. The claim's authenticity could not be verifies. The abduction appeared to be part of a campaign of violence by insurgents this week aimed at opening a "second front" to divert U.S. and Iraqi forces from the Fallujah offensive. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |
| #2 Marines said the insurgents waved a white flag at one stage but then opened fire, prompting the Marines to call in airstrikes, Wood said. So much for taking prisoners or giving quarter. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2004-11-10 7:41:16 PM |
| #1 Percentages!? Paulus held 90% of Stalingrad... |
| Posted by: borgboy 2004-11-10 7:16:53 PM |