This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6230234.stm

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
US troops face tough Baquba fight 'Al-Qaeda gunmen' killed in Iraq
(about 2 hours later)
US forces engaged in an offensive north of the Iraqi capital are facing fierce resistance, a US general says. US helicopters have killed 17 gunmen with suspected al-Qaeda links in Iraq's Diyala province north of Baghdad, the US military says.
Hundreds of al-Qaeda-linked militants are ready to fight to the death against thousands of US troops operating around Baquba, said Gen Mick Bednarek. The attack took place on Friday morning outside the town of Khalis.
The helicopters fired on them after observing 15 armed men trying to get into the town by bypassing an Iraqi police patrol.
The attack came as a US general said US forces engaged in an offensive in the province were facing fierce resistance.
Hundreds of al-Qaeda-linked militants are ready to fight to the death against US troops, said Gen Mick Bednarek, deputy commanding officer of the 25th Infantry Division.
He said fighting was from "house to house" and 40 suspected militants had been killed in the first two days.He said fighting was from "house to house" and 40 suspected militants had been killed in the first two days.
Gen Bednarek said troops raided a house on Thursday that contained what appeared to be a torture chamber.Gen Bednarek said troops raided a house on Thursday that contained what appeared to be a torture chamber.
"It is house-to-house, block-to-block, street-to-street, sewer-to-sewer," said Gen Bednarek, deputy commanding general in the 25th Infantry Division. "It is house-to-house, block-to-block, street-to-street, sewer-to-sewer," he said.
West of Baghdad, a suicide bomber struck a police patrol in Falluja, killing two officers.West of Baghdad, a suicide bomber struck a police patrol in Falluja, killing two officers.
US officials accuse al-Qaeda - who are Sunni Muslims - of using terrorist attacks to foment civil war with Iraq's Shia Muslim majority.US officials accuse al-Qaeda - who are Sunni Muslims - of using terrorist attacks to foment civil war with Iraq's Shia Muslim majority.
Sunni supportSunni support
"When you walk into a room and you see blood trails, you see saws, you see drills, knives, in addition to weapons, that is not normal," Gen Bednarek said of the suspected torture chamber."When you walk into a room and you see blood trails, you see saws, you see drills, knives, in addition to weapons, that is not normal," Gen Bednarek said of the suspected torture chamber.
The offensive comes as the US command completed a build-up of 156,000 troops in Iraq, to help curb sectarian bloodshed and allow time for reconciliatory moves by the Shia-dominated government towards Sunni Arabs.The offensive comes as the US command completed a build-up of 156,000 troops in Iraq, to help curb sectarian bloodshed and allow time for reconciliatory moves by the Shia-dominated government towards Sunni Arabs.
The operation, codenamed Arrowhead Ripper, is centred on Diyala province and its capital Baquba, just north of Baghdad. It is one of the biggest campaigns undertaken by US troops since the invasion in 2003.The operation, codenamed Arrowhead Ripper, is centred on Diyala province and its capital Baquba, just north of Baghdad. It is one of the biggest campaigns undertaken by US troops since the invasion in 2003.
Gen Bednarek said his troops had received logistical support from local Sunnis armed groups who were anti-US but who wanted to end al-Qaeda domination of their communities.Gen Bednarek said his troops had received logistical support from local Sunnis armed groups who were anti-US but who wanted to end al-Qaeda domination of their communities.
There has been no official acknowledgement of civilian casualties, but in a BBC interview, the head of Baquba's emergency services said at least 12 civilians had been killed by the end of the first day, and ambulances were being prevented by US troops from reaching others.There has been no official acknowledgement of civilian casualties, but in a BBC interview, the head of Baquba's emergency services said at least 12 civilians had been killed by the end of the first day, and ambulances were being prevented by US troops from reaching others.