US warplanes and artillery attacked Sunni insurgents in a thunderous show of force that rocked Fallujah, sending huge plumes of black smoke into the night sky.

Roadside bombs have claimed more US lives in Iraq, killing three US soldiers in separate attacks in Baghdad and Sunni Muslim areas to the north of the capital.

Iraq’s US administrator suggested today he would block any move by Iraqi leaders to make Islamic law the main source of legislation in the interim constitution, a move women’s groups fear would threaten their rights.