Troops storm Samarra, 109 rebels killed

US-led forces stormed Samarra on Friday and said more than 100 guerrillas were killed in air strikes and street-to-street combat during a ma...

US-led forces stormed Samarra on Friday and said more than 100 guerrillas were killed in air strikes and street-to-street combat during a major new American offensive to wrest control of the Iraqi town.

Samarra8217;s hospital said dozens of bodies were brought in, including at least 11 women, five children and seven men.

A spokesman for the US 1st Infantry Division said 109 fighters and a US soldier were killed in the offensive launched just after midnight. Four soldiers were wounded.

Thousands of people were fleeing the historic town, 100 km north of Baghdad. Water and electricity were cut off. Kassim Daoud, national security adviser in the Iraqi government, said 37 insurgents were captured in the operation.

The US military said Iraqi commandos had taken over Samarra8217;s Shi8217;ite Golden Mosque and seized 25 rebels inside. Iraqi troops also secured the town8217;s renowned spiral minaret.

The Interior Ministry said that by midday Iraqi police had control of the centre of Samarra, home to over 100,000 people, and most surrounding areas. The US-Iraqi operation was to 8216;8216;remove the terrorists who have been holding the town hostage8217;8217;.

The US military says it will retake guerrilla strongholds such as Samarra, Falluja and Ramadi and the Baghdad districts of Sadr City and Haifa Street by the end of the year so, elections can go ahead in January as planned.

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Clashes also erupted again in Sadr City, residents said, and doctors said eight Iraqis were killed in fighting there.

Since April, more than 100 foreigners have been seized in Iraq and about 30 have been killed. At least three Westerners are still held, including French journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, kidnapped in August.

The Samarra assault began after midnight with air strikes and artillery barrages pounding the town, which had been a no-go zone for US forces for months. The US military said troops destroyed several mortar sites, rocket-propelled grenade teams and guerrilla vehicles. 8212;Reuters