More than 1,000 American troops, supported by tanks and helicopters, have staged an early-morning raid on the Iraqi town of Fallujah, near Baghdad.Several suspected militia leaders were arrested and weapons seized.

It came as US troops continued to face the toughest resistance since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

In one recent attack, mortar rockets were reportedly fired at a US military base in Ramadi, west of the capital, Baghdad.

Qatar-based Arab TV station al Jazeera said ambulances were seen heading towards the compound.

The Pentagon had no immediate comment on the report which came as witnesses said 82 people had been killed by US forces at a desert training camp at Sahl, close to the border with Syria.


Meanwhile, Saddam's air force commander, Hamid Raja al Tikriti - number 17 on America's 'most wanted' list - is the latest top Iraqi to be taken into custody.

He was the 10 of spades on the deck of cards issued to troops hunting Saddam's key henchmen.

The news was released in a statement by US Central Command.

The latest detention brings to 31 the number of people on the list known to have surrendered or been captured or killed.

More than than 100 Iraqi fighters were killed in fighting earlier this week, according to the US military.

Army officials said 70 people died in a combined air and land assault on an alleged terrorist training camp in western Iraq on Thursday.

A further 27 people were killed after ambushing a US tank patrol north of the capital on Friday, they added.

Yahoo News