US forces push into centre of Fallujah

American forces pushed through the centre of the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah today, fighting bands of guerrillas in the streets and conducting house-to-house searches on the second day of a major offensive to retake the Iraqi city from Islamic militants.

A total of 16 Americans have been killed in the past two days across Iraq - including three killed in Fallujah today – most of them as guerrillas launched a wave of attacks in Baghdad and south-west of Fallujah, a senior Pentagon official said.