Deathtoll rises as fighting continues in Falluja

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Fighting is continuing between US troops and Sunni rebels in the city of Falluja, where up to 300 Iraqis have been killed and at least 400 have been injured since American troops launched an offensive on the city on Monday. It followed the lynching of four American security guards last weekend.

Since then, US Marines have been waging heavy battles, using warplanes and helicopter gunships against the insurgents. More than 30 coalition soldiers have been killed and many more have been injured in the past five days. In an expression of Sunni-Shi'ite solidarity in the face of the coalition crackdown, thousands of Iraqis made their way from the capital to Falluja onboard convoys to bring food, blankets and medication to the city's population.

Convoys carrying urgent blood supplies were let through first into Falluja after checks by US soldiers. US military vehicles travelling in the opposite direction came under attack in the Abu Ghraib area west of Baghdad. Insurgents fired mortar bombs and grenades at them. Witnesses said at least four vehicles were set ablaze.

US forces have denied they prevented aid from reaching Falluja, where help is badly needed. Bodies can be seen on the streets of the besieged city as its over-stretched hospital services try to cope.

The coalition is determined to stop Falluja from falling to the rebels, like the southern towns of Najaf and Kut which are now in the hands of the radical Shi'ite militia.

(Source: EuroNews)