Six Iraqi security men, one American soldier were killed; Allawi's relatives kidnapped

Unidentified gunmen yesterday kidnapped three relatives of the interim Iraqi prime minister Eyad Allawi in Baghdad.

The spokesman for the Iraqi government George Sada said that gunmen kidnapped yesterday one cousin of Allawi, his wife and another member of the family were kidnapped from their houses in Baghdad on Tuesday evening.

A security source said a short battle erupted in which machine guns were used at the house of the kidnapped in al-Qadeseyah quarters, noting that one of the kidnapped is Ala' Abdul Mijuid Allawi. The kidnappers did not announce any demands for releasing them.

In Falluja city, battles continued between the gunmen and the American and Iraqi forces which on Monday evening launched a large scale attack against the city to challenge what they called terrorists.

The American warplanes launched air raids against several positions in the city especially the Golan quarters; while shelling and missiles were heard and smoke columns were seen coming from houses situated behind the railway station controlled by the American and Iraqi forces earlier.

One American military source in Iraq said that the American forces arrived in al-Golan quarters, noting it is premature to talk about controlling all parts of Falluja amid fierce resistance shown by the armed men in certain quarters of the city.

Ten American marines were killed on Tuesday along side with two soldiers in the large scale operation, whereas one American military sources announced the killing and wounding of 90 in the lines of the gunmen.

American military men had expected that several gunmen and what they called leaders of the rebels, including the leader of al-Tawhid Wal Jihad movement, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, had left the city before the beginning of the attack.

In coincidence with the fighting in Falluja, six members of the Iraqi national guards were killed in two explosions when their armored vehicles were running in Touz, 60 Km to the south of Karkouk ( North Baghdad).

In Baghdad, the American army announced the killing of one American soldier and injuring another in a bomb explosion near a vehicle to the north of the city.