usa suffers humilating defeat at falluja, page-2

Reuters says otherwise;
The United States military denies a helicopter has been shot down over the embattled Iraqi city of Fallujah.

"There was no Multi-National Force-Iraq helicopter shot down," the military said in a statement.

A Reuters reporter in Fallujah says he saw a US helicopter crash after being hit by a rocket.

He says the helicopter came down in the city's Jolan district.

"We have spoken to our operations control centre and they say they have no such reports," a US spokesman said.

US forces are continuing their advance into Fallujah supported by a barrage of artillery fire and aerial bombardment.

Residents are reporting seeing smoke rising from across the city amid constant explosions.

Up to 100,000 civilians have taken shelter in their homes.

US and Iraqi government forces have taken control of the city's main railway station.

There are also reports that Iraqi insurgents have killed 25 police officers and wounded many more during attacks on three police stations in the town of Baquba, north-east of Baghdad.

The insurgents also attacked a key bridge in the area and gave out leaflets warning local people to stay at home.

Anti-US forces have repeatedly targeted Iraqi police officers and police stations across the country.

-Reuters

Dave R.