Rebels' Deadline Passes

Updated:13:50, Monday April 12, 2004

Rebel leaders set US forces in Fallujah an ultimatum to leave the besieged town or face a renewed all-out offensive. The deadline passed at one o'clock.

The reported ultimatum was given by a cleric, who said failure to abide by the demand would result in an immediate "all-out offensive".

Troops back in action

The development comes a day after the guerrillas and US Marines have resumed fighting in Fallujah, breaking a ceasefire barely a day old.

Iraqi fighters accused US forces of breaking the truce.

But the US military said its soldiers in the city, west of Baghdad, were only fighting in self defence.

The US military has laid siege to Fallujah for a week, blocking roads in and out, and sending battalions into the city.

More than 600 people, including Marines and hundreds of Iraqis, have been killed in fierce battles during that time, but America insisted most of the locals killed were militant targets.

US forces announced a unilateral suspension of hostilities on Friday and suggested a bilateral ceasefire on Saturday.

But neither move halted the fighting. An informal truce was agreed yesterday, which stopped fighting during the day.

Meanwhile, loud explosions have been heard in Baghdad this morning.

The blasts were reported to be from the heavily fortified "Green Zone" housing the US administration's headquarters.

Near to Baghdad in the troubled al-Anbar province, two US marines were killed in action and a third died later from his wounds, the US military said.

And one US soldier was killed and four wounded when their patrol was attacked near Samarra, north of the capital.