Firefight at Fallujah breaks fragile truce

FALLUJAH - United States forces and Iraqi insurgents traded machinegun fire, mortars and grenades for four hours in the restive town of Fallujah yesterday, killing six civilians and breaking a tentative ceasefire, residents said.

They said the clashes erupted in the town's Golan district and went on for four hours before the shooting died down. US military aircraft flew over the area during the battle.

Six civilians were reported killed and 10 wounded. There was no independent confirmation of the toll nor of who was responsible for the casualties.

The fighting erupted hours after US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the truce in the battered city of 300,000 people would not continue indefinitely.

The Marines launched an assault on the city on April 5 after four private US security guards were killed and mutilated. Doctors say more than 600 Iraqis have died in Fallujah since.

More than a week ago, the US military said it had suspended offensive operations in the city but would hit back if attacked.

Talks to stabilise a shaky truce have led to relative calm interspersed with intense bouts of fighting and air strikes.

The White House said yesterday that the US-led coalition in Iraq was stable despite plans by Spain and Honduras to withdraw their troops and US officials worked to head off any more defections. However, later, the Dominican Republic joined the countries leaving, saying it planned to bring its 300 troops home as soon as possible.

The White House hopes to secure a new United Nations resolution for Iraq that would help encourage other nations to help with security and rebuilding. However, Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz played down expectations that a new UN resolution would persuade allies to send additional troops into Iraq.

In Washington, Secretary of State Colin Powell said he had talked to the foreign minister or head of government of almost every other country in the coalition in the last 24 hours.

"And I'm getting solid support for our efforts, commitments to remain and finish the job that they came to do," he told reporters.

Troops in Iraq

Includes:

* United States 135,000

* Britain 11,000

* Italy 2700

* Poland 2400

* Australia 850

* New Zealand 60

Pulling out:

* Spain 1400

* Dominican Rep. 300

* El Salvador 360

* Honduras 370

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq