Thirteen US soldiers killed in Iraq

According to Pentagon figures, some 10 soldiers were also wounded in and around Falluja.

"Friendly casualties are light," Metz said in a video teleconference briefing from Iraq.

The US military reported that two Iraqi soldiers of the interim army had been killed in the attacks on Falluja.

"Enemy casualties, I think, are significantly higher than I expected," Metz added, but declined to provide a number.

Mosul, Baghdad fighting

Three US military personnel were also reported killed in Mosul and Baghdad on Tuesday.

"One Task Force Olympia soldier was killed and a second service member later died of wounds following a mortar attack on a Multi-National Base in Mosul at approximately 10:00am (0700 GMT) today," a statement said.

"A civilian contractor also wounded in the attack was evacuated to the military hospital in Baghdad," the statement added.

Another US soldier succumbed to his wounds sustained during a firefight with Iraqi fighters in Baghdad, AP reported.

A total of 14 Americans have been killed in the past two days across Iraq - including five in and around Falluja.

The latest US deaths brings to 1140 the number of US troops killed in Iraq since the US-led invasion in March 2003, according to Pentagon figures.

Ramadi fighting

In a separate development, anti-US fighters took control of the centre of the Iraqi city of Ramadi after 24 hours of clashes with US forces, an AFP correspondent has said.

The US military could not immediately be contacted for comment.

US forces withdrew Tuesday around 2:00pm (1100 GMT) from Ramadi's main streets to their bases east and west of the city, the correspondent said.

Earlier, five US troops were wounded in Ramadi when marines shot at and destroyed two suspected cars killing seven fighters, the US military said Tuesday.

The attack occured in the city on Monday, located 113km west of Baghdad, where US troops have clashed with fighters for weeks, the military said. No other details were available.

Ramadi, and Falluja to the east, is a centre of anti-US fighters waging a 17-month campaign against US-backed interim authorities in Iraq.

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