Firefights between US troops and insurgents nr Fallujah

(21 Apr 2004)
1. Helicopter
2. Soldiers shooting from rooftop
3. Tracer fire
4. Soldiers on rooftop
5. UPSOUND: (English) US Soldier:
"Right now 2nd platoon has got four guys separated from the main body. They are cut off by fire so they are trying to work their way around back to the rest of the platoon."
6. Soldier on rooftop
7. Explosion
8. Sniper
9. UPSOUND: (English) "Take cover!" Explosion
10. Smoke
11. Soldiers on rooftop
12. Various shots of smoke
13. Soldier on rooftop firing
14. Soldiers on rooftop
15. Soldier firing grenade, explosion
16. Soldier firing grenade into window
17. Helicopter
18. Smoke, pull back to soldier
19. Various shots of soldiers on rooftop
20. Large explosion
21. Helicopter
22. Various shots of foot patrol
23. Helicopters
24. Various shots of foot patrol
STORYLINE:
Up to 40 Iraqi insU-R-G-E-N-Ts attacked U-S Marines in northern Fallujah on Wednesday, setting off a heavy gunbattle, Marines said, as an agreement bringing peace to the besieged city hit snags a day after implementation began.
Explosions were heard coming from the scene of the fighting, and Cobra helicopter gunships were blasting with Gatling guns from the air.
The attack came as U-S Marine commanders said no guerrillas have come forward so far to turn in their heavy weapons, a key tenet of the agreement that began being implemented on Tuesday.
The Marines, in response, halted a key commitment on their side in the deal, the return of Fallujah residents to the city.
The attack began just after daybreak when the insU-R-G-E-N-Ts launched a frontal assault on the Marines position with a barrage of rocket-propelled grenades and small arms fire, Marines said.
Nine insU-R-G-E-N-Ts were killed, and three Marines were wounded, a spokesman said.
Captain Matt Watt, of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marines regiment, said he doubted the battle would scuttle Monday's agreement, suggesting it was an isolated attack by a relatively small group of guerrillas.
U-S commanders have warned that they could launch an all-out attack on the city if the agreement - announced on Monday after negotiations between U-S officials and Fallujah civil leaders - falls through.
So far, however, Marines were only putting parts of the deal on hold in response.
Byrne said guerrillas had turned in no weapons since Iraqi security forces deployed in the city on Tuesday on a mission to collect heavy weapons.
In response to the failure to disarm so far, Marines stopped allowing the return of families who fled Fallujah during the fighting - a top concern of the Fallujans.
From the start, the fragile agreement had depended on how much the city's guerrillas complied with a call by city officials for them to turn in heavy weapons.
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