Bloody clashes in al-Ramadi, scores of Arabs detained

Ten Iraqis were at least killed and other 15 injured including three American marines in explosions and clashes between the American forces and gunmen in al-Ramadi, according to Iraqi medical sources in the city which is situated to the west of Baghdad.

The American army stressed that clashes took place with gunmen but without giving mention to details on the volume of losses. Witnesses said that three American soldiers were injured in a bomb explosion that targeted a marines patrol in the city.

The witnesses explained that the American forces blocked the main roads in al-Ramadi and imposed a security belt on the eastern quarters of the city.

This coincided with artillery bombardment on Falluja's eastern frontiers where clashes were taking place between gunmen and the marines. A statement by the American army said it had destroyed yesterday morning what it described as fortified positions for mortars used by the fighters.

These developments coincided with the announcement made by the American army in Iraq yesterday that the number of marines killed in al-Anbar governorate during the past 24 hours increased to nine, in addition to injuring other 9 and thereby the number of American army killings since the beginning of invasion in Iraq in March 2003 increased to 113, according to US defense department ( Pentagon).

The last casualties in the number of American army killing in Iraq is considered the largest in one day since several months in the governorate which is situated to the west of Baghdad which includes al-Ramadi and Falluja cities.