Fierce Battle in Western Iraq Between US Troops, Insurgents
18 April 2006
Reports from Iraq say a fierce fighting is raging between U.S. forces and insurgents in the city of Ramadi, west of Baghdad.
A Western reporter for CNN, traveling with U.S. Marines in the region, says American forces called in airstrikes against rebel positions early Tuesday, after the Marines came under heavy fire from insurgents hiding in a mosque.
No details on casualties are available.
Separately, at least four Iraqis were killed and several others wounded in a bomb blast in a Baghdad neighborhood. Officials say the bomb was apparently aimed at a police patrol passing nearby.
On the political front, Iraqi leaders remain deadlocked over who will lead the country's next government, following the latest postponement on Monday of an opening session of Parliament.
Iraq's Shi'ites, who have the largest bloc in Parliament, have been resisting demands by Sunni Arabs and Kurds who want Ibrahim al-Jaafari replaced as the nominee for prime minister. The Shi'ites, in turn, are rejecting the Sunnis' candidates for Parliament speaker and other government posts.
Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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