At least 22 people were killed and 35 injured on Saturday when dozens of anti-US guerrillas attacked security compounds in Falluja, freeing at least 20 prisoners.
The police station and a compound for the Iraqi Civil Defence Corps (ICDC) and the mayor’s office were attacked in a closely coordinated assault, leaving 14 policemen, four civilians and three attackers dead.
The attack, with rockets, mortars and machine guns, signalled a growing boldness on the part of insurgents fighting US-led forces.
On Thursday, the top US commander in West Asia, General John Abizaid, narrowly escaped an assault on his convoy at the attacked ICDC compound in Falluja.
Jails in the compounds were stormed allowing the prisoners to flee. A government building nearby was attacked at the same time.