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Fighting Breaks Out In Al-Fallujah

26 April 2004 -- The U.S. military in Iraq today said eight insurgents were killed and four U.S. troops were wounded during fighting today in Al-Fallujah.

U.S. Colonel John Coleman said the fighting began when insurgents began firing at U.S. troops from a mosque.

Elsewhere in Iraq, Spanish troops were ambushed today in the southern city of Al-Diwaniyah. The soldiers claimed they killed an unspecified number of insurgents when returning fire.

In Baghdad, an explosion rocked a building where U.S. forces were conducting a raid, wounding at least one soldier and several Iraqis.

Meanwhile, Poland today said the United States will take over two out of five provinces currently being administered by Poland in south-central Iraq following the upcoming departure of Spanish forces.

Polish General Mieczyslaw Bieniek, commander of the multinational force in south-central Iraq, today confirmed the transfer of military responsibilities.

Poland's TVN24 news channel reported that the size of the Polish-led contingent will be reduced from some 10,000 troops down to 6,500 troops, after Spanish and Latin American forces withdraw from the U.S.-led coalition in the coming weeks.

(AFP/Reuters/dpa/AP)

Copyright (c) 2004. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org