World News 08-11-2004 Battle For Fallujah Has Begun who: Prime minister Iyad Allawi what: Declares state of emergency as US forces advance into Fallujah where: Iraq when: Yesterday snippet: "The long-awaited assault by US troops on the Iraqi city of Fallujah appears to have started," reports the ITV website. "US forces have stormed into western districts seizing the city`s main hospital and securing two key bridges over the Euphrates River." "Warplanes pounded rebel-held areas of the city as US Marines fought fierce clashes with heavily-armed insurgents on its outskirts," says The Sun. "Witnesses reported heavy fighting on the eastern and western fringes of Fallujah - including around a bridge over the River Euphrates." Prime minister Ayad Allawi declared a 60-day state of emergency in preparation for the assault. Nevertheless, James Hider of The Times says the Marines - supported by armoured vehicles and Iraqi special forces - "encountered minimal resistance". He says there are few guerrillas left in Fallujah "after weeks of airstrikes and encroaching US raids" but there were "intense exchanges of fire between American forces and insurgents near the Jolan neighbourhood in the northwest of the city, across the river from the hospital". Meanwhile, says The Sun, two corporals from the Black Watch "were fighting for life last night after they were blown up by a suicide car bomber in Iraq." Both men are bomb disposal experts who were in the back of an armoured vehicle when a car bomber crashed into it. They are expected to be flown to a military hospital in Germany. [... more]

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