The ceasefire in the flashpoint Iraqi town of Fallujah has been extended until Monday night, with the agreement of both United States forces and insurgents, a mediator said.
”The ceasefire was extended by 24 hours last night, so it is supposed to last until Monday evening,” said Alaa Makki, a senior member of the Iraqi Islamic Party that is leading the mediation effort.
”It had initially been due to last until today morning, but the two sides agreed to 24 hours” more, he said.
Makki said ”we were just in contact with Fallujah and the situation is now calm, but it gets complicated because there were three Iraqis wounded overnight.
”We think that when the marines move their troops, the insurgents become suspicious and start shooting, triggering retaliatory fire,” he said.
An AFP correspondent on the ground in Fallujah said the ceasefire seemed to be holding on Monday morning.
Citing hospital sources in the town, Makki said more than 600 Iraqis had been killed and 1 250 wounded in the week-long US offensive against insurgents in Fallujah. — Sapa-AFP