Marines join Iraqi forces in Fallujah

ESCORTED by Iraqi forces, US Marines entered the centre of Fallujah yesterday for the first time since the end of the bloody siege last month.

Marines in Humvees and armoured vehicles drove into the Sunni Muslim city west of Baghdad in a convoy with members of the newly established Fallujah Brigade riding in pick-up trucks.

The Americans spent about an hour there, meeting city officials and discussing plans to repair damage from last month’s fighting, said Marine spokesman Lieut Eric Knapp.