Mosul violence increases

Civilians are heading for cover as best they can with the city government having closed all bridges for 24 hours. Insurgents are blowing up police stations and are taking up defensive positions.

Iraq's interior ministry said seven police and 30 fighters were killed in clashes in Mosul on Sunday.

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About 1200 US troops moved in to Mosul on Tuesday after large groups of anti-US fighters took over police stations in the city in the past few days.

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"The operation has been launched," said Stuart Williams, a US military officer. "Two battalions are sweeping from the west side to the east."

Aljazeera article