The rout is on claim US troops in Fallujah

American forces pushed deeper into the last remaining insurgent stronghold in Fallujah today, and the Iraqi government rushed massive reinforcements to Mosul in the north, where police lost control in the face of insurgent attacks.

Marine Lieutenant General John Sattler said US and Iraqi forces now occupy about 80% of Fallujah, and clearing operations are continuing to find caches of weapons and ammunition.

The largest pocket of remaining resistance fighters were cornered in the south-west as airstrips and strafing runs continued.

“The rout is on,” said a Cavalry Division officer. “It won’t be long now.”

Iraqi forces are charged with searching every building in Fallujah, working from north to south, the military said.

In the city’s north, US forces report roving squads of between three and five militants shooting small-arms fire and moving easily through narrow alleyways. Troops are finding numerous weapons caches, the military said.

Fighting was so fierce that, on one occasion, US troops fought insurgents room to room, just a few feet away from each other in the same house.

Troops have cut off all roads and bridges leading out of the city and have turned back hundreds of men trying to flee. Only women, children and the elderly can leave.

The military says keeping men aged 15 to 55 from leaving is key to the mission’s success.

“If they’re not carrying a weapon, you can’t tell who’s who,” said a Cavalry officer.

Since the offensive started on Monday, 22 American troops have been killed and about 170 wounded, of which 40 returned to battle, General Sattler said. About 600 insurgents have been killed, the military said.

At a US camp outside Fallujah, Marine commander Major General Richard Natonsk, said the operation was running “ahead of schedule,” but he would not predict how many days of fighting lay ahead.

Militants have been using mosques as military strong points, he said.

“In almost ever single mosque in Fallujah, we have found an arms cache,” Natonski said. “We have found IED-making (bomb-making) factories. We have found fortifications. We’ve been shot at by snipers from minarets.”

In Mosul, Iraq’s third city, armed militants attacked the main headquarters of a key Kurdish political party today and assassinated a senior police officer as the governor asked for security forces to stabilise the situation.

Saadi Ahmed, an official with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan, said an hour-long gun battle erupted between gunmen and the guards at the main headquarters. Guards killed six attackers and captured four others before the rest fled.

On Thursday, guerrillas attacked at least five police stations and political party offices there in what could be a bid to relieve pressure on their allies in Fallujah.

The unrest prompted the government to sack Mosul police chief Brigadier General Mohammed Kheiri Barhawi. The move followed allegations by local officials that police abandoned their positions and in some cases co-operated with insurgents during Thursday’s attacks.

Regional Governor Duraid Kashmoula said Mosul asked the Iraqi government for help in stabilising the security situation.

“We asked the central government in Baghdad for reinforcements and God willing they should arrive today,” he said.